CatKnitsandThings

Making Doll clothes.

2008-10-18T14:17:00.000-07:00

We're still having all the fun over at http://catknitsandthings.com

Just stopping by to say

2008-09-09T09:01:00.000-07:00

My knitblog is at http://catknitsandthings.com. My latest aventures in knitting and frogging are kept there these days.

10 Favorite Movie Characters

2008-07-08T14:52:00.001-07:00

Posted my "10 on Tuesday" over at the new site!

10 Inventions That Have Made Life Easier

2008-06-24T11:46:00.001-07:00

Wow! Lots of these.

Circular knitting needles with great cable joins and cables that don't kink. Addi Lace and Profi come to mind.
The crock pot - or the electric rice steamer. Kind of the same category, so I'm lumping those into one.
Ravelry.com.
Split/ergonomic computer keyboards. (I type a lot.)
Online shopping.
Digital cameras.
MP3 players. I use mine mostly for audiobooks, magazines and podcasts. In fact, I don't think I have any music at all on mine.
Bloglines and other RSS feed aggregator type programs. (I think that's what they are called...)
E-mail. Although I guess that one could be argueable..as could #8.
Mozilla's Firefox browser.

Powered by ScribeFire.

As the dishcloth turns...

2008-06-17T15:09:00.001-07:00

And possibly twists and stretches! This pattern has quite a bias "tweak" to it. It, of course, blocks out and sits pretty for a picture, and it will make a fabulous dishcloth because of its texture, but as a stitch pattern, I'm thinking this one does its best work as a washcloth. I think a garment would be all wonky knit in this stitch. Hmm...it might make a nice market bag if a person had the stamina to work it in that size project. Anyway. Its done (um...yes...I see the oopsies too!) and it has taken its place amongst future contenders for wedding, housewarming and/or hostess gifts. I'm digressing from my earlier plan to do the hummingbird next - my fickle eye got caught by the monthly KAL, so I'm doing that one next as it turns out. Meh...I may start the hummy too. I don't "wait" well, and this KAL is stretched out over a week.

Still with the dishcloths...

2008-06-16T15:11:00.001-07:00

I may forget to update Blogger here. I've been doing the regular posts now on my domain catknitsandthings.com - hmmm...sounds familiar, doesn' t it? :) I'm not sure how long I'll keep the Blogger blog going. It's nice to have to fall back on if the domain thing gets too expensive, but for now, the real posts will be over on the domain. Here's the latest dishcloth. I love this color yarn.

Still thinkin...

2008-06-12T12:02:00.001-07:00

I'm actually having fun with these dishcloths. Right now, I'm leaning strongly towards lace for the next big project. But first I want to do maybe half a dozen or so of these...or not.

Thinkin' knitting

2008-06-10T18:26:00.000-07:00

Maybe you've heard of "thinkin' drinkin'" - well, this is "thinkin' knittin'." I can't decide which project I want to do next. I should work on Pretty as a Peacock, but that one requires a stronger will and committment than I feel like I can muster up right now. I really miss that yarn though. It's so wonderful to knit with. I just kept goofing up on the lace, and I know it needs to be either ripped back, or just maybe started completely over - so it's still marinating. I have some sock yarn that needs to be turned into socks, I want to make the Adult Surprise Jacket, and I want to start on another Stahman shawl...but nothing has actually "gelled" yet. So, I'm replenishing the dishcloth stash while I think about it. This is actually dishcloth #2. The first one was just a Grandma's favorite that I made out of some leftover purple yarn. It sure does make a nice cloth. It's in use now though, so no pictures. This is a dragonfly. I have a butterfly on the needles now. There's a hummingbird up next, and a couple of different lace patterns in the queue after that I think. That should give me plent of a) dishcloths for the stash, and b) time to figure out what the next big project will be.

Ten on Tuesday: 2

2008-06-03T09:29:00.001-07:00

This will be my second post of "Ten on Tuesday" - I don't always have the ten things, but this time I think I do. (Ha! I probably have "a hundred on Tuesday" this time. It's been a very long time since I was in school!)

10 Ways the World Has Changed Since I have Been in School

Computers. In my work as a medical transcriptionist - we went from the big old hunkin' electric typewriters with all the keys inside, to IBM Selectrics with those little balls that had all the letters on them, then electronic typewriters, then word processors and finally computers with word processing software.
Cell phones. (Probably most people will pick that one.)
Audio (and video) media. I won't go in to the whole list, but from vinyl records we went from 4 tracks, to 8 tracks, to cassettes, to CDs and now MP3 players. Now that's just the audio part, video similar - home movies on those little projectors and reels of film, to VHS to DVDs and DVRs...I think digital cameras both still and movie types also fall into this category - remember those giganto "camcorders" that eventually started shrinking down in size to the new digital ones? No? I'm old. I know.
Laparoscopic surgery. Since I type this stuff for work, I have seen big changes in the medical field via the reports I type. For example: Since I started in this field, they have gone from making about a 5 inch long incision in a person's upper abdomen to three tiny little puncture holes in order to take out a gallbladder. Same for other organs. Blood loss has gone from being measured in "units (1 unit is 250 cc's/ml)" to "cc's (ml)" now - pretty amazing. (These are for the uncomplicated procedures, of course.) Lots of other amazing advances - and price increases - in the field of medicine, but this less invasive type surgery continues to amaze me. They even do some heart procedures this way now.
Knitting needles. I remember the aluminum ones, and the plastic-y ones - but now there are things like Addi Turbos, and bamboo and a wealth of other exotic woods to choose from. I guess Denise Needles were around back then, but I wasn't aware of them. In just recent years, Addi came out with their lace needles, and of course Knit Picks developed their Options needles too. Now, I guess this doesn't necessarily change to WORLD per se - unless you're a knitter, and then they've likely changed your world.
Blogs and the Internet. Some folks have actually gained a measure of fame, and written books after first being part of an internet forum, or blogging. We can also shop, go to school, work, keep in touch with family all over the world, and meet people this way (not an endorsement, just an observation).
Gas Prices! I remember being concerned about the raise in gas prices back in the 70's and my mother telling me "Even if it gets up to 50 cents per gallon, you'll still buy it." Moms are wise that way.
Gas stations. While we're no the subject - I remember when most gas stations had an attendant that filled your tank, washed your windows and checked the oil in your car. Later you had the option of "full serve" or "self serve" and now - pretty much you do it yourself - and the whole transaction is between you and the gas pump and your credit or debit card.
Banking. We had bank books (for savings accounts) and we deposited our checks with a teller who stamped a date on your check book register (for checking accounts). Now - I never even see my paycheck. It's just a number that shows up in my account - which I also check online. And some banks charge you to visit a teller - they much prefer you stay outside with the ATM machine and your piece of plastic.
Morals.

Barbara blocking

2008-06-01T07:37:00.000-07:00

I love the shaping of these shawls. Here's Barbara - imperfections and all, and she's still a beauty. The imperfections are, of course, my mistakes, not the pattern's. The patterns and charts are all written fabulously. It looks like she'll be just right for a little summer cover-up. I worried it would be too small, but I don't think it is. Blocking still continues to amaze/amuse me.

I'm not a fast knitter, plus I had a couple months of down time with the flu, so this one took three months to complete. It really is NOT that time-consuming of a project. I just wasn't knitting much this spring.
Specs:

Began/Finished: March 8 - June 1, 2008
Needles: Size 6, Addi Turbo circular, 40 in.
Yarn: Elann.com Endless Summer Connemara - 9 skeins - maybe 8, could have been 7 who knows!**
Finished Size: 66 in (168 cm) by 26 in (66 cm)

**Edited to Add: Okay - here's the deal. I THOUGHT I only had 10 skeins of this yarn. I have had it for such a long time, and started so many projects with it which then got frogged, that apparently some of the skeins got placed in different places. For instance - I had most of them in the bag they were mailed in - in my big project bag. Another skein was recently found in a bag that I have some of my stash stored in, and still ANOTHER skein showed up on June 3 - in my knitting basket. I wasn't counting skeins as I used them to knit this shawl, I just started another one as I needed to. I guess that's part of the beauty of these shawls - you knit until you're getting low on yarn, and then put an edge on it, and call it finished. My kind of knitting indeed!

Barbara on the edge

2008-05-30T11:21:00.000-07:00

I'm more than halfway around the edge of "Barbara". I'm never sure (nor do I ever think it possible) that the shawl will block out to the size I need it to be. But, that's the beauty of knitting - you can always gift it to someone if it doesn't. I knitted until I had two skeins of yarn left, and then started the edge. I have learned how to, as Ms. Stahman calls it "Knit to and pearl fro." Which means, I am knitting the edging on without having to turn my work! It's basically knitting backwards, and what a great way to learn a new technique. At first I couldn't quite wrap my mind around the instructions, but then, I got tired of turning a lap-full of shawl everytime I'd knitted five or six stitches! So, I then decided to maybe re-think my decision that I "couldn't" figure it out, and perhaps TRY to figure it out. Amazing how that works. So, next pics should be in the blocking stage. We're almost there!

Ten on Tuesday

2008-05-27T07:03:00.001-07:00

Ten Favorite Time-Wasters

These are not in any particular order. Rather, they're all "my favorite" so I didn't even try to order them by range of most favorite. Notice that "knitting" is not listed here? That is because I don't consider knitting a time-waster. I consider knitting one of the best ways to fill time-slots where your only other option is to sit and waste time. Frequently knitting is going on WHILE I indulge in my favorite time-waster of the moment (and especially during UN-FAVORITE time-wasters like waiting for things), but any time spent knitting is never wasted. So, with that caveat in mind - here's my list:

Reading Blogs
Reading newsgroups.
Surfing around Ravelry.com
Pogo online games.
Watching TV.
Surfing the Internet.
Standing on my porch watching the hummingbirds.

Browsing through people's photosets on Flickr.com
Window-shopping - especially where yarn is involved.
Reading knitting magazines.

Felted Clogs - Big Pink Ones

2008-05-22T07:51:00.001-07:00

Felted Clogs
Originally uploaded by grannycat2327

I don't think I ever put the FO of these up. They're actually pretty funny. And, I might add, if you're not doing much more than shuffling thru the house, they're quite nice to wear. There's nothing more lovely than putting your feet into soft fluffy angora bunny fur lined slippers. I blended the bunny fur with some corriedale fleece, and then spun that together. I apparently ended up with more than a worsted size yarn, because after I knit these up at the size I've made before with Cascade, they came out a LOT bigger. So, of course, after they were felted, they were also a LOT bigger. I guess the moral to that story is - make a smaller size, OR, dont dye your yarn pink and add girly fun fur to the cuffs and then find a guy with size 17 feet to gift them to.

Barbara Shawl progress

2008-05-01T09:45:00.001-07:00

It has been slow going, because of all the flu stuff, but I thought I'd update the progress pics on this shawl.

I think I'm maybe midway down the back. It's really a fun knit and I would have probably finished it by now if not for the flu thing, and if I was knitting with wool yarn, but cotton really makes you work. I hope I have it finished before June. I'd like to wear it at the convention in SF.

(I won't mention that I'm not sure if I have enough yarn...that's just too stressful to think about - this is stash yarn, purchased a couple of years ago.)
Here's the back.

A little fun

2008-04-28T16:44:00.001-07:00

You Are An ESFJ

The Caregiver

You are sympathetic and caring, putting friends and family first.

A creature of habit, you prefer routines and have trouble with change.

You love being in groups - whether you're helping people or working on a project.

You are good at listening, laughing, and bringing out the best in people.

In love, you value harmony and mutual understanding.

You will apologize or give someone the benefit of the doubt, if it means getting over a fight sooner.

At work, you are good at building relationships and connecting with people.

You would make a great nurse, social worker, or teacher.

How you see yourself: Organized, dependable, co-operative

When other people don't get you, they see you as: Opinionated, critical, and know-it-all

What's Your Personality Type?

I get by with a little help from my friends

2008-04-23T09:23:00.001-07:00

Vitamins posed in window - I don't store them there.
Originally uploaded by grannycat2327

I have been sick since, it seems like...forever this spring. I had thought the flu was going to miss me because I didn't catch it early in the "season" like it seemed everyone else had. So, I figured I was safe. Home free as it were. Not so. It caught up with me about a month and a half ago. For two weeks I was in misery, thinking about how plausible the Spanish Influenza epidemic death toll now seemed and then reminding myself that I've had the flu before, felt like that, and survived it every time. So just be patient. Knit something, and make use of the down time. Well, I didn't feel up to knitting. Mostly I just felt like sleeping or watching a movie in my chair with my quilt...and sleeping. Eventually that bout started easing off, and I was back in action. Still had a nagging cough, but otherwise felt almost back to my old form. And then one day, about a week or so after I considered myself "over it" - it all came back again. Relapse. So, two MORE weeks out of commission, and another week recuperating. So far! The recuperating phase seems to want to linger. Friends are starting to become concerned. Some have even taken action and sent healing gifts.

Perhaps I'll knit some...

2008-04-12T15:44:00.001-07:00

For the past month, at least, I have been kind of away from blogging about my knitting. I have been knitting a little, just haven't finished anything, but mostly I've just been sick. The flu finally caught up with me. I was staying ahead of it pretty well. Everyone else around me was dropping like flies from it, and I meticulously washed my hands and stayed away from obvious sources of flu bugs...and then one day...it found its way to my house. It came home with Sean. He works at a grocery store, so really, there wasn't much hope of him escaping it. So, he came down with it - and after that - there was no escaping it making the rounds of our house. Since then, I've mostly just been sidelined. Even knitting makes me tired, although, I have finally begun to feel well enough to pick up the shawl I'm making. I have also made one felted clog - which has turned out enormous even felted - but I'm still going to wear it. I'm making it's companion the same size, and will just schlep around in huge clogs. Actually, they tend to shrink with washing as you wear them, so I figure that eventually, one day, they'll be just the right size. They just need to be worn and washed a few times first.

So, anyway, I missed D, E, F and I think "G" in my ABC-along pics. If I ever get over this Flu, I'll try to rectify that. D was too close to losing my Dog Daisy, and I couldn't think of anything else - and I'd used her for C anyway - so add the loss of my dear fur-baby, throw in a double-dose of influenza (yes, I relapsed) - and there were no ABC-along pics to decorate the blog with.

Here are my three knitting bags with their respective projects. Brown paper bag holds clog yarn. I had the idea to put some of the "fun fur" type yarn around the cuff. I washed and dried this clog so many times trying to get it to shrink down, that I think I melted the fun fur! Note to self - make smaller size next time you use your handspun.

Small sock bag with one sock that needs toe Kitchnered and next sock started. These socks are for a child. They're my car knitting project, and since I've been home sick - there has been no car knitting recently. The last bag has the Faroese style shawl progress. It looks kind of pitiful right now, but I think it's actually turning out nicely. I have never blocked a cotton yarn, so not sure how the end result will be, but hopefully it will behave willingly, and it will look much better on blocking wires than it does as a formless blob on a knitting bag.

I have been sewing too, but don't have pictures to share. It was mostly mending and "need this" kind of sewing, nothing fun and noteworthy really. Although I kind of thought my idea of serging the edges of my old towels a rather clever idea. My towels were getting frayed - there was no money to replace them with, and I have all these neat threads from my past life here - so I just got out the serger and freshened up all the edges of the old towels. I feel like I got new towels everytime I get one out to use now. Pretty cute, heh?

I always feel so "resourceful" when I do something like that. Cheap thrills.

Another WIP...

2008-03-11T08:31:00.000-07:00

I am guiltily avoiding my Pretty As a Peacock shawl. So much for "knitting along." Oy. I know I have to rip it back to the lifeline again, and I don't want to. So, while I avoid thinking about it, I have been buisily knitting other things. Little easy things. Things that are soothing and calming for the most part - and that have been relatively quick knits.

Frankly, I'm just a little bit amazed at the incentive I've gained while avoiding the inevitable. So, to that end, there have been baby hats, a dishcloth or two, second sleeve to a sweater finished - and a bazillion ends woven in...but the sweater is sort of in that same "Pile of Avoidance". (Marihone is still waiting for me to get the courage to steek the armholes and sew the sleeves on and then finish the neck. All firsts for me. So, they're waiting for the day I'm feeling rather invicible. That hasn't happened yet - so it waits.) And, since I just love how my Faroese style shawl fits, I'm making another one now. Out of some yarn that I have had for a few years. It's cotton.

I really don't like knitting large projects with cotton. It sucks the life out of the skin on your hands. But - I think I have ENOUGH of it for a summery shawl, and the color I had dyed my handspun suddenly occurred to me was NOT my color. So, since at least at this point, I want to knit every shawl in that book - I cast on for Barbara in a coral-colored DK weight cotton that I had in my tiny stash. I got it from Elann.com a couple of years ago. I originally purchased it for another shawl - but that one required p5tog tbl and, while that's probably "doable" with a nice flexible wool - at least for me that was NOT going to happen with this yarn. So, I abandoned that idea.

Since then, this yarn has actually been:

knit almost completely into a sweater and frogged -
another sweater started - also frogged -
and now it's becoming this shawl.

Hopefully this is what it will end up being. Besides, I'd already practiced the pattern, so no use waiting until I forgot it again. Seems as good a reason as any for using a yarn with this one's track record.

Practicing Lace

2008-03-07T14:25:00.000-08:00

It finally occurred to me, that I could actually practice a lace pattern before I started knitting it up into the actual shawl or scarf. I know that lace patterns take me a few times doing them before they finally make sense, but up until I decided to try this one in dishcloth yarn did it ever occur to me that I could actually swatch to learn the pattern. Usually I'm just ripping out what I've done and starting again and hoping the yarn holds up. This is one of Myrna Stahman's Faroese shawl lace patterns. Likely the next one I'm going to knit. Possibly, it will be in some of my handspun since other options don't exist right now. I have 3-1/2 repeats here. First one is close, but off in a couple of spots, second one is the one where you are all... "oh, okay I think I've got it - and then you get too cocky and make a ROYAL mess of things" - third repeat - humility has returned, and I'm finally into the "zone" of kind of "chanting" the y/o's and decreases to myself as I go along - and finally it's right. So, now I have a nice lacy dishcloth to add to the stack - albeit humble with it's flaws and inconsistencies, and a lace pattern learned that I can now apply to wool.

Win.
Win.

We like that.

D is for Daffodil

2008-03-04T14:55:00.000-08:00

I almost forgot my "D" installment for the ABC-Along. The daffodils are starting to bloom in my neck of the woods.

Gauge Swatch

2008-03-03T12:27:00.000-08:00

Don't you just love Elizabeth Zimmermann's idea for making a gauge swatch - make a hat, then it doesn't seem like you're just wasting time (not that gauge swatching is wasting time, mind you...) getting on with a project. This is a pattern in one of the Baby Dale books Dalegarn #142 and this is "Nr 5". I don't know it's actual name. But there's a pattern for a cardigan, a pull-over, a vest and this sweet hat. It has these baby chicks, cows and hound dogs on it, and I originally bought the yarn to make the sweater with it for my new grandson. It's done in Stork. This was my attempt at swatching for the project. But it may end up just being the entire project - well, plus a pompom because they're kind of fun to make.

Because of Daisy

2008-02-29T16:30:00.001-08:00

Almost five years ago, I got married. Five years ago, my soon to be husband went in search of a new place to live after our marriage. It had a fenced yard and allowed dogs. You see, I came as a package. Love me - love my mutt...Daisy. Daisy had been my best friend for quite some years, and where I went, she went. So, we had to get a place that allowed dogs and had a fence, because of Daisy.

Soon, we needed to move. Jobs changed, Landlords changed, and again, the place had a big back yard, which I shored up with some extra wire panels to keep things secure, because of Daisy. Daisy, being half coonhound, would do what any self respecting coonhound does - follow her nose and go in search of things that needed sniffing, oblivious to any possible dangers on the way. I was concerned for her safety, so I always have made sure fences were good wherever I lived. Still, she would occasionally escape, and off I'd go immediately in search of her. She enjoyed the game of hide & seek - and because her heart was true, albeit a bit treacherous, she'd keep me within earshot often just out of my reach on these occasions she'd escape. The chase was half the fun, and these little excursions usually ended with her finally deciding she'd had enough amusement for the time being, and now would enjoy a ride in the car back home. After a drink of water, and some cooling down, she'd settle down and catch some z's.

Our front door screen often doesn't close completely. So, on days when I was allowing it to be open for fresh air in the house, I kept a close watch - because of Daisy. She'd wait for just the right moment to slip out the door and off she'd go for the romp across the hillside.

So, as Daisy got older, and things slowed down because a wasting illness that overtook her, we'd go for small walks out front. Just enough to get things sniffed. She'd stare off into the distance wistfully, wishing the leash were not part of her attire. If she ran off, she'd need the ride home now, but that didn't matter. It'd be worth the pain just to be able to run to the places the neighborhood cats had been, or the nearby wildlife. The little walks were nice enough - but the run - the run had always been such an exhilarating thing. Sigh. The little walks with her human, they were nice too. So, she'd lead her human around the little course down the driveway, over to the spot where the racoons go under the fence, over to the neighbor's kitty smells, slowly back up the hill because the legs just didn't move like they once did, back around the yard another turn - anything to avoid the stairs and the climb back up into the house. For some reason, those legs just didn't really feel the same, and climbs were difficult.

Food stopped tasting good. Human food still held an appeal, and for some reason her human had finally gotten the message that begging required a response. Soon, the humans mostly just fixed things for themselves that appealed to Daisy. Energy was low. But, her Lady knew that she'd eat a little bit of cheese, or a piece of toast if tempted enough, so, when things got to be too much trouble to bother with, her human offered the treats without any begging. The last day, even though it wouldn't stay down, her Lady actually gave her chicken. How often she'd requested this thing, and how little response she'd ever gotten. Now, without even requesting it, her Lady gave her soft pieces of chicken for a treat. What a good Lady. She'd had her for over 10 years, and in these last few, her human had become fairly well-trained after all. She'd always known she had potential, that she'd eventually come around and just do it, because of Daisy. Because it's what Daisy requested, and she asked for so little. Even when the request was for peace, and a release from the pain that nagged her daily, and this ill feeling - her human did this favor for her too. She knew that she loved her, and that it was difficult, but, because of Daisy, her request was granted. Her Lady will be fine. She has Michael. Michael loves her too. Maybe for not as long as Daisy did, but certainly at least as much. And, he'd been pretty easy to train. Sometimes he forgot things, but her Lady could explain them, and Michael was very good at bringing the right things home. He was a good human. They'll be fine. Because of Daisy.

Pom poms, second sock done - all set....

2008-02-22T20:03:00.000-08:00

Timmie volunteered to be my hat model. MP wouldn't do it...

The pom pom making was fun. I used Purl Bee's pom pom tutorial. Couldn't have been easier!

So, now if I can just get the gift bag made, I'm all set for the little get together tomorrow.

The hat pattern is in Dalegarn #124. I get most of my Baby Dale stuff from Bea Ellis or Spin Blessing. Both can't be beat for service, and their prices are about the same. The yarn was in the stash, but originally came from Astrid - who is having an awesome sale right now, but I don't get to take advantage of it - so hopefully everyone else is enjoying the fabulous savings at her online store.

Baby Knits

2008-02-22T10:48:00.000-08:00

I have a baby shower to attend - tomorrow. Between today and tomorrow, I need to

knit one more stinking cute sock, and
overcome my fear of pompoms.... oh, and
make a gift bag.

As can be seen - I'm hoping mom wasn't expecting things to, well, match. I'm not real big into "matchy, matchy..." Actually that's not entirely true. I would have made the socks to match the hat, only the Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino is kind of "fat" yarn for the pattern I was using, and while it was fine to have the hat come out a little bit bigger than it probably would have had I used Baby Ull yarn, the booties I tried came out MUCH bigger than would have worked for a "baby" shower. They may have fit a baby with feet the size and shape of a full-grown goose, but I wasn't going to chance it. I haven't seen this little blessing yet, but I'm kind of thinking his feet are probably more standard "baby" than "goose." So, I'm gambling these socks would be more appropriate - albeit turquoise. I love how the toe came out.

Just hope I can remember how I did it. Note to self:

There are 44 stitches.
I made them using 5 2.25 mm needles.
I did an inch or so of a k2/p2 rib, then switched to k1/p1 ribbing.
Did the heel flap (also in k1/p1) and turned the heel, then decreased the gusset back down to the 44 stitches - I think I picked up 7 stitches for the gusset - how CUTE is that???
Anyway, then I continued the k1/p1 rib pattern for a bit. (Will need to use this sock for a guide.)
Switched to stockinette, and started the toe decreases every other round with 12 stitches on a top and bottom needle and 10 sts on 2 side needles (those were the toe decreases I ate up every other round).
Then I started decreasing every round top and bottom until 9 sts were left on the bottom needle and 10 n the top (not sure how that happened, but I just decreased once out of the middle top).
Knit one more round, and then Kitchnered the toe closed.

The hat needs pompoms.... Every pompom attempt I've made in the past came out less than satisfactory. I hope this time is different.

C is for...

2008-02-11T08:26:00.000-08:00

Catahoula of course...

This is Daisy. She's half Catahoula and half coonhound, and has been my best friend for more than a decade.

Pink and Green BSJ - Flopped

2008-01-31T12:51:00.000-08:00

I don't like it. It actually looks a little better than this photo, and weaving in the yarn ends and mild blocking would probably help some - but I should have just made a small version of the ASJ - since nobody I know that is this size wears a diaper and needs that nice rounded area for a hiney to fit into.

Things I like about it: I like where the striping landed. I love the 3 2-stitch bind-off buttonholes (for this yarn) that would accommodate nice big buttons up at the top, I like the contrast bind off - opted for that rather than an I-cord since the yarn is so bulky. So, I'll be unraveling all that garterstitch and re-skeining the yarn. It may or may not end up as an ASJ (small). I might just make the girls some cute felted hats from this yarn. It was a fun knit and I think I'm ready to get back to my peacock shawl now.

Knit on!

The Green and Pink BSJ progress

2008-01-28T14:23:00.000-08:00

I'm calling this "75%" done - because I'm on the part where you knit 10 ridges - about halfway through that - and there's still all that I-cord to knit after it's all finished.

This yarn is really not "baby" size yarn, so this BSJ is coming out quite a bit bigger than the two I have knit before, and I'm really loving that! I'm hoping it will fit one of my granddaughters, neither of whom are "baby" size any longer - by a long shot. If not - well, it's still a fun thing to knit this batch of handspun into, and nice to have in the stash for gift-giving when the occasion arises.

This time, along with the Opinionated Knitter, I'm using Dawn Adcock's notes (which I refer to as my "cheat sheet") on making the BSJ. I don't remember how I stumbled across them, but they have sure come in handy this time as kind of a way to keep track of where I am.

Baby Surprise Jacket

2008-01-25T11:15:00.000-08:00

"B" could also be for "BSJ" too, now, couldn't it? This one is a most pleasant knit. Of course, I'm off in my counts for the decreases, but it's only by a stitch or two, so I'm just shrugging and continuing... It's coming out as likely the largest one I've made yet. I guess my "worsted" weight yarn, is actually knitting up kind of chunky. Gauge seems to be consistently somewhere between 3-1/2 to 4 st per inch. I'm actually kind of pleasantly surprised by that because I might just have a recipient for it if it comes out big enough. I am hoping I have enough yarn for the project. I "think" I might - but if not, well, I guess there's always the option of ripping it out and re-purposing the yarn. It'd make a nice hat and/or scarf. Meanwhile, it's a great thing to knit during an exciting movie, or a playoff game on TV. And..that's probably why I messed up on the decreases. I was glued to a good movie while I was knitting it the other night. The pattern can be found in Elizabeth Zimmermann's book "Opinionated Knitter", or as a single sheet, or a kit from her daughter Meg Swansen at SchoolhousePress.com.

B is for Bread

2008-01-24T07:45:00.001-08:00

Whole wheat oat bread. First loaf of the "season."

Dyepot results

2008-01-22T06:05:00.001-08:00

The pinks and greens were the first results from two batches of dye that I mixed up using my highly scientific method of a scoop of this to three scoops of that in a Mayo jar with water. Then, half of that jar into the dyepot and a couple of glugs...or so...of vinegar. The green had more yarn in the pot (and possibly more water) than did the mauve - which was supposed to be plum, but I like this color better....

The dark purple sort of variegated fingering weight skein in the front, is the result of overdyeing one of the green skeins with some of the plum leftover in the Mayo jar and using the crock pot. No water in the crock pot to dilute the color. Just some vinegar,the skein of yarn and the dye. I really like the result, although I don't know if there's enough here for a project of any substance. I'm leaning heavily towards maybe a Baby Surprise Jacket with the green/pink yarns, and - I'm wondering - if I could then use the purple fingering weight for an attached I-cord. Hmmm....there's probably enough for that.

The yarn, which is made of corriedale blended with angora bunny, varies in thickness so I think the garter stitch construction of the BSJ will lend itself best to that little issue....or ???

Nuppy sheep

2008-01-21T07:02:00.000-08:00

I found myself in a quandry as to what to knit this weekend. My Peacock Shawl is in time-out because I keep goofing up one of the feathers, so I just set it down and walked away for a while.... I don't really have a sock project going - because the one that I'm making up is about to be ripped out again - so I figured I'd just make a dishcloth. Even that got ripped out, and then I decided to go find a fun pattern. Enter the "nuppy sheep" dishcloth pattern, that I found in my binder of downloaded freebie dishcloth patterns. This one is from Knitting Knonsense. I guess they're not really nups so much as they're bobbles - either way, I'm not a big fan of them. I am, however, a big fan of sheep, so since the dishcloth yarn I'd selected was white, it seemed like a good choice. My wrists are still kind of sore from coaxing cotton worsted weight yarn into a bobble, but it made a cute cloth. I guess it's hard to see the sheep's head - purl bumps in the shape of it's head, and a tiny nuppy bobble for an eye - but it's there if you squint.

Just dyeing to see...

2008-01-16T11:36:00.000-08:00

I believe I'm quite possibly the most un-scientific dyer out there. I did find my crock pot, but decided instead to use the stove-top method and dragged the old soup pots out. I dye kind of like I cook - no neat little scale and measuring cups - I'm all about "approximate ratios" and mayonnaise jars for measuring and a couple of "glugs" of white vinegar. So, I have my first batch done. They're still drying. I did two batches of color, and, knowing me, I'm likely to over-dye at least some of the skeins. So this may not be the end of it - or could be - again - no science involved here, just a whim and an impulse usually.

Quiet Saturday in January

2008-01-12T11:59:00.000-08:00

It's grey and wintery-looking outside today, kind of like another weather system is trying to blow in. It's a good day for things like housework, laundry, sewing, maybe plying a few bobbins full of singles - that sort of thing. I need to go rummage around in the garage and see if I can find my crock-pot that I use to dye yarn in. I haven't used it in years, but think it's still out there. I'm starting to formulate a project for all this fluffy yarn - but so far nothing has really solidified as "it" yet. I am going to dye it with one project in mind - I think even still it will be flexible enough to change my mind.

Meh. Maybe I'll just knit...

There has been knitting

2008-01-10T09:04:00.001-08:00

Pretty as A Peacock Shawl Charts A and B

But it only looks like this. Actually - even this has been ripped back to that purple lifeline. I might block it just to make myself feel like I'm making headway and then continue knitting it...maybe...or not. I keep goofing up Chart C. Normally, this would distress me, but I have finally learned that - well - that's kind of how I knit lace. It takes me a few tries to finally get the new pattern to "click" - occasionally it never does - but most of the time the lightbulb finally comes on and I can then get that pattern knitted up. Chart C is not really difficult, but I think I keep missing a yarn-over somewhere...so I'm off by one or two or five stitches by the end of the first row...

There has been spinning too... but it looks like this - and, while I get all jazzed about the progress I'm making, it's really not all that exciting looking yet. I'm spinning a corriedale/angora blend that I blended. I had the corrie in my stash, and a friend of mine who used to raise fiber-bunnies has a whole BUNCH of bunny fur in her stash, and she generously shared some of it with me. So, this will be fluffy yarn...which I'll likely dye eventually. Not sure yet whether I want to dye the singles, or just wait until I have it all plied and dye it then. I think it'd be fun to ply a couple of different colors together just to see how it would look - but there's always that possibility that it will look like - junque - and that'd be sad. So, while I spin, I consider possibilities, and for now, that's enough.

A is for ALONG

2008-01-03T10:27:00.001-08:00

Or perhaps "African Violet" if you're in the ABC-Along.

I seem to be in "join mode" - I think the symptoms are similar to what some knitters have referred to as "startitis" where you are absolutely compelled to start a new project, despite the fact that you may already have one, two, or who knows how many projects already on the needles "started". I have so many great ideas bubbling up in my brain, and have stumbled across a couple of -alongs out there that seem to be a good way to keep myself focused and on-track - or else just seem like a fun thing to do. (I haven't really figured out what is the biggest appealing factor here yet.)

So, for starting of Knit Year 2008 - I'm officially in 2 KAL's and one, okay maybe two "other-alongs":

There is the Peacock Shawl KAL. And that's progressing along nicely. I'm loving this yarn, but it remains to be seen if it's a good choice for showing off this beautiful pattern. While it's still early in the game, at this point, I'm thinking I wouldn't mind knitting another one of these from a solid color yarn if this variegated one hides too much of it. This pattern is really nice. I'm so impressed with the quality and simplicity of the charts and accompanying written-out instructions.
The other one is an EZ EPS KAL that is being hosted on Ravelry. I haven't got the yarn yet for this project - these things take time for us "stashless" types - but I'm really looking forward to doing one of these sweaters.
For the Wannabee Photographer in me I found the ABC-Along that Vicky of Knitorious is hosting.
Then - just to keep me reminded and involved with my spinning, I'm putting Dave from Cabin Cove's 2008 Spinning My Wheel button up. He's got a nifty little spreadsheet posted here to keep track of your progress with your spinning projects too.

So, there I have it! 2008 may be the year of Knitting Fearlessly at KnittingDaily but, I'm thinking it's going to be more the year of "Joining Fearlessly" at my house.

The Grandma Mabel Memorial Recipe Box Show & Tell

2007-12-31T10:28:00.000-08:00

Those Mason-Dixon girls, this time Kay in particular, have come up with another knee-slapper. (Especially the last picture caption of her adorable Grandma Mabel and aunties "working the cloche hats." ) And then an invitation to Blogland to "bare all" - and show your vintage 1970s recipe box - like hers from Grandma Mabel - complete with the ravages of time/cooking expeditions. (One of the rules is cleaning the box up before the photograph is cheating). So, here's mine.

The recipe I'm using isn't one that shows a lot of wear for a couple of reasons:

It's SIMPLE so not a lot of handling of the recipe card was needed - and
It's "costly" - ESPECIALLY calories-wise - so it didn't get made a whole lot.

But it's gooooood! and was a family BBQ "star" for years. (My maternal grandfather brought it with him when he was visiting California from Austin, TX.) Also, I seem to remember using "whipped butter" - a whole tub of it - rather than the "oleo" called for in the recipe. But I love the syntax - sounds so Texan, doesn't it? "Oleo."

(Click for big.)

Soon, my recently composed and tested "Reasonable facsimilie" of Starbucks Gingerbread recipe will be added to the already overstuffed contents of this box - and stored away for future generations.

2007 Project Count

2007-12-31T08:31:00.001-08:00

The neat thing about keeping a journal, is the ability to look back on the things you accomplished in the past year. I'm tempted to make a list of things to accomplish in 2008 and then see how close I can come to it. Tempted, but...sometimes that's a sure way of not accomplishing them. Maybe I'm more grown up now and can do that. We'll see. Meanwhile, as I was looking back over this past year's posts, it brought a smile to see how much I actually did get done.

Knitted:

1 lace scarf (The beginning of the lace addiction)
3 shawls

1 finished February sweater (one more on the needles)
1 BSJ
1 pair "Blu" jeans
1 Stranded baby hat (Ladybug Baby Dale pattern)
1 Not quite finished Ladybug sweater (ran out of yarn right at the end of sleeve #2 and still waiting on the back-ordered skein)

4 pair of socks
for: me, MP, my mom and stepdad

1 Snowflake Cup cozy (KnitPicks.com). Mine is at the bottom of this post.
1-1/2 pairs of felted clogs (whole pair for MP, one replacement for me)
1 Homely tea cozy - also spun that yarn

About a half dozen or so dishcloths - one was from wool for an afghan donated square

1 Ganomy Hat (gotta love EZ!)
1 pair of generic "mitts" (fingerless mittens) that I made from sort of a "recipe" rather than a pattern.

On the Sewing Front:

2 pair of PJs for me
2 sleep shirts for MP
Doll clothes and a doll repair job for Megan
Wedding gift tea cozy and muffin cozy
Finished up the curtains for my mom
Re-covered pillows for the front room here.

I think there may have been a couple of other things that didn't make it to the blog, and that I forgot to list. I like the progress though. Not really "prolific" but respectable. Last year I was knitting mostly dishcloths and 10-stitch garter scarves on big needles, and towards the end of the year my first BSJ. Its progress, and good to see.

Pea-cockiness

2007-12-24T11:45:00.001-08:00

Another beautiful colorway (SOOOFT superfine merino fingering weight) from Lisa Souza. This one is called South Pacific. It also has an "earthy" orangy-tan color in it. So, the Peacock Shawl is goin' "painted" with this choice. Can't wait to get started.

One down - one on the needles.

2007-12-18T12:36:00.001-08:00

Finished. Even with buttons this time! And since I was so used to that little sweater, I decided to just start another one. This next one is in Knitpicks Shine sport weight, and it's multi-colored. I'm going to wait for the FO to post though, because if it doesn't turn out like I have envisioned - well, there's no sense documenting my lame idea. I think I'm short one color too. That's the exciting part. You get to hold your breath thru an entire project to in hopes that makes things work out in your favor.

February Sweater in December

2007-12-14T10:15:00.000-08:00

I'm kind of amazed at how much faster this yarn knits up than the sport-weight acrylic (ick!) I used for the first one. I heart Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino. This is maybe 1-1/2 skein's worth, and I'm almost finished. I have even already seamed up the sleeves, and woven in almost all of the ends. I decided to crochet a loop at the top for a first buttonhole. I have so far remembered to put in the other buttonholes as I move down the front band. Last time I made it, I forgot to put them in.

A paucity of yarn

2007-12-13T11:27:00.000-08:00

Sorry, couldn't help using that word "paucity." Perhaps "dearth" or "scarcity" would have been better. Either way - means I ran out of the green stuff I was going to finish Ladybug with. So, it's sitting again, and I'm back to working on the lilac colored February sweater from Knitter's Almanac. I love that I have grown in understanding with regards to lace patterns now. Last time I knit this February sweater, I got it done, but it was all such a mystery to me - this simple little gull wing pattern. Now I can spot where I missed a yarn-over, count to make sure I've got all the stitches in a repeat, and I can pick it up and "read" what I did last, and know which combination I'm working on this row, even if I hadn't made note of it....or even if somehow my row keeper got bumped cockeyed and I can't tell where it was sitting when last we knit.

So, anyway, back to the paucity of yarn thing. I don't have a huge stash. In fact, my yarn stash fits loosely into one Rubbermaid tub - and that includes my handspun. I'm absolutely blown away by some of the yarn stashes I've seen online. Mostly I'm blown away by how much money that represents spent. These nice yarns ain't cheap! Mind you - I have no problem with buying things I like/want. I've been known to do that with fabric, although again, usually had a gift in mind, or later in my sewing/quilt-making era had been commissioned so could spend the $ and get enough money to buy more fabric. I have enough yarn to keep me busy, mostly sock projects and a couple of baby projects. I have another shawl that I'm looking forward to knitting, but so far, have only been able to get the pattern, because the budget just hasn't stretched far enough to acquire the yarn. I'm hoping I can get it by January when the KAL starts. Its' for the Pretty As a Peacock shawl - yeah, I go from rank beginner, finally understanding EZ's gull wing lace to "Expert" patterns. It's what I do. Just gimme the yarn!

Baby Sleeves

2007-12-11T12:01:00.000-08:00

They're so cute. Making them feels like knitting socks. Well, unless you're doing one of EZ's little ingenious inventions, and then maybe they feel like knitting a doily with arms for a while, until they fold up into a cute little baby sweater.

The ladybug sweater has been resurrected from the bottom of the WIP basket. It's so cute, but I had:

1) Arrived at the sleeves portion of the sweater.
2) Had the wind taken from my baby knitting sails when I was told my grandson would not be wearing hand-knits.

So, it sat for a season or two waiting for me to pick it up again.

I have had him in mind (still do!) the entire time I've been planning and working on this cute little Baby Dale pattern.

After I got over the "poor me" feeling, (and as soon as I ran out of other projects, and couldn't think of a sock project I was just itching to start), I picked up Marihone again. I'm running perilously low on the yellow, and spring green colors that I need to finish this sleeve. Mostly it's the green that's got me worried, because I have to knit two more bands of it, and I'm pretty sure there's not enough. I haven't dug completely through the stash again yet, but I have a sneaking feeling the only "extra" I have for this sweater is the turquoise blue color. Natch.

Meanwhile, back at the start-line, I decided that lavender Baby Cashmerino I had steeping in my meager little stash for about a year now, would make EZ's February baby sweater from "Knitter's Almanac" a lovely thing to knit. And I was right. What yummy yarn. This will be for a girl baby gift, of course. I'm thinking, like dishcloths, baby sweaters could be a good thing to stock up on for when friends/relatives have babies who do wear hand-knits. I have a deeper plum color in this yarn too that I haven't decided what to do with yet. Whatever end ends up being, it will be a lovely experience making it. This yarn is sooo nice.

Some final thoughts on Swallowtail

2007-12-07T11:02:00.000-08:00

She makes a decent size "big girl" shoulder shawl with a couple of extra repeats of the budding lace motif, and fingering weight yarn. And likely a regular size nice warm wrap for those tiny little folk out there.

Pointy, lace-knitting needles work the best - especially if you're making the "nupps". I used the Addi Lace needles in size 4 (3.5 mm), and Kauni EG yarn - not sure how much. It was left over from another project. It was maybe close to 800-900 yards though.

If using a heavier gauge yarn, as I did, even though the bind-off in the pattern is my favorite one, the edge it gives is a little bit thicker than I would have liked. It's not terrible. Just kind of makes the edges not as pointy as they would have been without as much yarn involved in the bind-off.

I found this pattern, especially the Lily of the Vally Border charts, extremely difficult FOR ME to get correct. Apparently it's just me, because most that I have looked at, are just beautiful and they seemed to have none of the problems that I had. The budding lace is easy once it "clicked" in my brain, and the "peaked edging" was also no problem, and rhythmic once I got into it. I'll likely make this one again after some more experience with knitting lace. The one thing I have learned with this knitting journey - is the more you do it, the more it makes sense, and the better your skill becomes. Hmmm...kind of sounds like that "practice makes perfect" thing.

Swallowtail off the needles

2007-12-06T11:44:00.000-08:00

See, just like I thought. I finished the socks on Tuesday, and bound off Swallowtail on Wednesday. Blocking coming right up! I sure hope that "I-cord'ish" bind off looks a little less "burly" once it's blocked. This is fingering/sport-weight yarn, so likely that's a great idea for a lace-weight bind-off, but I'm wondering if maybe I should have just gone with a less bulky bind off for this weight yarn. Oh well. She's done. I'll love her anyway, I'm certain.

Neck and neck...

2007-12-04T15:02:00.000-08:00

It appears I may finish both of these projects at pretty much the same time. I'm a couple of rows shy of binding off on the shawl, and I'm almost to the toe on the socks. The Yarn Harlot did such a beautiful job on her Swallowtail Shawl. I think she said she's making it as a gift for someone. Well, they're about to be blessed big time, because that's just beautiful. I ended up adding a couple of more rows to the budding lace on this one. I was kind of worried about it being small, and I knew that pattern fairly well, so went ahead and just did that again a couple of times and then re-tried the last three charts. There's still mistakes in them, but at this point, I've decided to just live with it. I'll be more careful with my next project, but this one I just want done. At least I think so. Once I get it finished, I'll take another look and see if it needs to be ripped out and redone. The socks are coming out great. Actually, both projects are running low on the yarn! I think I'll have enough, but it's kind of exciting being close, but not quite finished, and wondering if there's enough yarn. Cheap thrills, heh? Kind of like getting your pulse rate up watching golf - and I do believe I've been there/done that as well. So, anyway, almost done, almost on the blocking wires. I'm looking forward to the end of this one, and hopefully having another nice shawl to wear to meeting.

Swallowtail Kauni still flightless...

2007-11-28T09:17:00.000-08:00

I seem to be having a problem with the third chart on the Swallowtail shawl. I may have ripped it back to the lifeline five times now. Meanwhile, as it sits in a "time out" periods, I finished one really big sock for MP and started the second one. Maybe I have found the cure for second sock syndrome (SSS).... Knit a lace pattern that for some reason won't "click" in your brain. There's something very calming about miles and miles and miles of stockinette (which this size sock requires if you're using fingering weight sock yarn) while one meditates on the possibilities as to why they can't get the blasted lace pattern to work. I totally gave up on the nupps. I do not heart purling 5 together even if it isn't that difficult - seems I don't have the patience for it...at least with a pattern that keeps eluding me. There I am spending all that time getting those nupps purled, and then have to rip it all out anyway because things weren't lining up in the right spot. So, I'm fine with going "nuppless" - just really would at least like the y/o's to end up in the right spot - thank you very much. Meanwhile - my hunny's getting socks for his big ol footsies this winter. Plain ol' mindless knitting, but he's a guy, and he doesn't care so much for anything fancy. Works for me and my pea-brain.

More Shrek Slippers

2007-11-25T07:48:00.000-08:00

Can you even stand how CUTE these are?

And if you're wanting matching father and son "Donkey" slippers from Shrek - they have you covered!

Swallowtail Update

2007-11-20T09:50:00.000-08:00

I'm progressing along through the "budding lace" chart. I'm almost finished with it and have finally managed to "get it", so now I can get a rhythm going as I knit.

It's intriguing to me how the light changes in the Fall. I was auditioning different spots on my porch to photograph the progress here, and kind of playing around with where I'd put the shawl. This was one choice, and then I thought ... hmmm, maybe the crepe myrtle would be an idea.

And, speaking of "hmmmmm" - up flew Inspector #5 to make sure I'd done Chart B correctly. I bribed him with sugar water to give me the stamp of his approval, on account of, I don't like ripping back. And anyway, I took out the lifeline last night, so it's all or nothing right now. (I'll put it back in after I finish this repeat.)

He was good with that.

Leftovers

2007-11-16T21:11:00.000-08:00

Hey, thanks for the nice words on the Cherry Leaf shawl. I wish Blogger let you write back to poster's in the comments, but unless I have your e-mail address already, I can't. Don't mean to seem like I'm ignoring anyone who leaves a comment here. I love that you came by, and especially appreciate that you'd take the time to comment.

So, anyway...there I was with a couple of balls of Kauni left after the Cherry Leaf shawl was done - guess I should have just kept knitting and adding more repeats and it would have come out bigger, but I was anxious to finish it, so just did what the pattern called for. I learn as I go along...

And, since I have leftovers, I decided to start on the next thing down on the list of things I'd like to make - Swallowtail Shawl from IK Fall 2006. I'm off to a decent start. Had to rip it out a few times after this picture was taken, but I do believe I finally got this part figured out. There are lifelines involved, and I've switched the needle size up to the same ones I used on the Cherry Leaf shawl. Love the Addi Lace needles.

Blocking Cherry Leaf shawl

2007-11-13T15:18:00.000-08:00

It's kind of smallish. Stretched out it's got a 54 inch wingspan (137 cm) by 30 inches deep (76 cm). I guess if you're a tiny little thing, that's not smallish...but my wingspan is longer than that. :-) Love the pretty Kauni EG colors though. If I make this one again, I'm going to use at least a DK weight yarn.

Weekend progress, Cherry Leaf shawl

2007-11-12T08:36:00.000-08:00

Well, I rounded the corner at the point. Not sure if it will be my last attempt, or if this will be a shrug and fudge and call it good. It appears to still have the ridge, but this ridge pulls flat, so I'm thinking once it's blocked it will be fine. I can't imagine this blocking out to be the size I'd want in a shawl, so likely this one will be a gift to someone smaller.

Oh...that back loop...

2007-11-08T09:00:00.000-08:00

I kind of like the lace edging that the "Shoulder Shawl in cherry leaf pattern" has in Victorian Lace TODAY. Apparently, according to some comments I have read, it is not the same one as illustrated in the book, but it's nice and "Victorian" looking, so I like it.

I have to rip it out though. And I'm almost to the tip of the triangle on my first side of edging. **sigh** [Denial - Queen of It - right here baby!] The instructions say to knit the B chart, and as I go along, I'm supposed to "knit last border stitch thru back loop (tbl) together with a center triangle stitch (which is the stitch at the edge of the shawl selvedge that's waiting to have this pretty lace edging connected to it). However, the way I'm doing it is making a ridge on the front side of the shawl [which I no likey, and which I have just been kind of watching grow thinking - maybe it'll block out - then I do the pull and stretch thing and squint me eyes and say - mmmm....maybe not].

So...this rippage will be my first hurdle. Go back and start over and make sure that ridge ends up on the OTHER side - or modify how I'm attaching it and just use the back loop on the selvedge like it seems to indicate.

The point of the triangle shawl looks like it's going to be a white-knuckler/nail-biter for me too. It says that the pretty lace border is to be done thusly: I'm supposed to "knit the last border stitch together with a triangle stitch 7 times".

To which my brain responds with a resounding: "Huh?"...

Ah, the things we learn as we go along.

What a great game (or two)!

2007-11-05T07:25:00.001-08:00

Wow, how about that New England Team? I actually like both teams that played last night, and loved it that Indy was leading most of the time last night. I felt so bad for Peyton Manning and Joseph Addai because they played an awesome game - as did the Indianapolis Defense. So, I think I was probably actually rooting for Indy, but wasn't terribly disappointed in the outcome of the game, because I just love watching a precision team play - and NE is ALL of that! I haven't seen that kind of football being played since the days of Joe Montana and Crew. The game last night felt like the one I watched between the 49ers and Dallas when Dwight Clark caught that pass that has been immortalized, and titled "The Catch."

I think my shawl is in the red zone now too. I'm trying to decide if I want to add another 10-row repeat - or two - to it, or bind off and start on the edging. I'm pretty sure I have enough yarn to do that, and I'm not sure it's big enough yet, so may add another repeat tonight during the game. It has a couple of extra yarn-overs here and there in it. Those games got pretty exciting (plus I watched Transformers while knitting on it Friday) and I might have inadvertently "oopsed" here or there, but it's a pretty forgiving pattern, and the "shrug and fudge" technique seems to have worked on those spots.

I got a little further on the car-sock this weekend too. I'm not actually knitting a sock for the car - I just knit socks when riding in the car. Once I'm finished with the Cherry Leaf Shawl, I might just focus on the socks and get them finished up....or cast on another lace project...or maybe finish Marihone. I just ran out of steam on that one because of the "no knits on my son" rule that got handed down after my grandson was born. So, I'm still on the sleeves. But its so cute, I want to finish it, and maybe just dress the doll with it. So, I guess it's obvious I don't really have a project planned for "next" - but there's plenty to choose from for now.

Floribunda...

2007-11-03T07:10:00.000-07:00

Or abundant flowers! My african violets just keep on amazing me. Yesterday was a pruning day, so I trimmed out the spent blossoms while they sat and got a foot bath in some tepid water in the kitchen sink.

I was never able to grow them in the past. And even now when I try to give them to friends, they politely decline with the words - "oh I can't grow them."

I understand. I used to say the same thing. Then, my son - Mr. Green Thumb - told me not to do ANYTHING to them except water them by letting them sit in a sink with water for about an hour after they get dry. I took his advice, as well as put them in the kitchen where they can enjoy the moisture there, and ever since then - I have to keep buying pots and soil and repotting them as they keep multiplying and dividing, and maybe doing other sorts of math that creates new plants. It's a good problem to have. They're a year-round little gem on the shelf above the kitchen sink.

I found this link on Growing African Violets and it appears they recommend pretty much the same thing. Just suggested a "tray" instead of the kitchen sink for their foot bath. What ever floats your boat - or waters your violet!

Shoulder shawl in Cherry Leaf Pattern progress

2007-11-02T18:46:00.000-07:00

I'm enjoying the rhythm here. Progress of course is never quite fast enough, but it's OK. I really am just enjoying the process. I'm wondering if this yarn won't be quite so "scratchy" once it's been washed and blocked. It's texture is rather like a hair coat as I knit with it. I sure do like the long stretches of color in the Kauni multicolor though and would love to be making something stranded with it. But I think, at this point, my experience level (and current growing obsession with all things lace) dictate otherwise.

Kauni Are Cherry Leaf now...

2007-11-01T09:52:00.000-07:00

I actually had all of the small ball and the part that's wound onto the big ball (plus what I have now knit into the new shawl) done on the Pi[e] Are Square - and then decided it just wasn't going to work out with us. My gauge was too sloppy, the lace pattern I'd chosen for the first section of lace looked bad. So....it went for a swim in the "frog pond" and came out the Cherry Leaf Shawl from Victorian Lace TODAY. I have tried this pattern a minimum of five times previously - but each time I couldn't figure out how to get past row 45. I was using a red laceweight merino, and, well that poor skein was just getting trashed from my bumbling efforts. This is a heavier weight yarn, and apparently owing to the difference in yarn, I was able to finally "see" the pattern happening with it, and now I "get it." In fact, I get it well enough to have actually - drum roll please! - for the first time - memorized a lace pattern! I actually think I could make this a take-along project if I wanted to. Right now I've got socks going for the car rides though, so I'll just keep using this one as my Football/TV viewing project.

Next up...Pie Are Square

2007-10-27T08:08:00.000-07:00

Or in this case, Kauni Are Square.

Blocking Catharina

2007-10-25T09:48:00.000-07:00

Well, she's off the needles and onto the office floor. It's pretty amazing to me (again!) how that little "blob" can stretch out and become a really nice size butterfly. She's fairly "riddled" with oopsies! and even a mildly close look will show up the imperfections that spell "rookie lace knitter" but I still love her, and she's big enough for a big girl to wear. This yarn is probably considered 4-ply fingering weight - seems more a little between fingering and DK. I got it from Elann.com quite some time ago. It's called "Linea Star" or "Baby Star". It's a superwash wool. Good thing since, in the process of "dressing" it, I filled my washing machine on the gentle cycle for it to soak, and it started agitating. Didn't hurt it a bit.

Specs (also on my Ravelry page):

Yarn: Laines Du Nord Baby Star (about 4 skeins)
Needles: Size 4US (3.5 MM) Profi 40" Bamboo circs from Astrid. These are a dream to knit with.
Pattern: Catharina, Faroese-style Lace by Myrna Stahman
Shawls and Scarves: The Best of Knitter's Magazine
(Errata: Don't think there was any, but can be checked on XRX's errata page.)
Suggestions: Use a lifeline. Lifelines are your friend. They are not too much hassle. Honest.

Almost done

2007-10-24T08:42:00.000-07:00

Catharina looks pretty much the same, just more pointy things on the edge. I have about three left to do - but first I have to rip the last one I did and start over. I really cannot talk and knit lace yet. YET. (Eventually, I hope to be able to do that.) Looking forward to getting it off the needles and blocked - or as the author says "dressed." So, that will be the next thing I learn - how to "dress" lace.

Meanwhile, my spinning wheel has been calling to me a lot lately. I have been patting it and telling it "soon" and trying to stay focused on this project.

This picture has nothing to do with any of that. I just like it. It's my driveway. Isn't October a pretty month?

A little edgy

2007-10-19T13:15:00.000-07:00

The main part of the shawl knitting is finished. Now, I'm working on the edge design. What an ingenious pattern. I just have to marvel that someone could design it (and I am aware that this is a drop in the bucket to some lace patterns out there). Still, I'm very impressed with the design, and how Ms. Stahman figured it all out in the first place. I love how I keep learning more and more as I go along. Wish it was finished. I'd like to wear it this weekend, but that won't happen, so I'll just stay content with the process here.

BIF-3: Dan Heath - Think Inside the Box

2007-10-13T06:19:00.001-07:00

"Great mind hack!"

That's how this article was described by a computer dude. I was pretty fascinated by the article myself, from the point of view of simply being more productive in whatever you need to be productive doing. It's simple "common sense" but explains why it's a smart approach to life's puzzles. You'll probably enjoy it too. Read on...

read more | digg story

The Blob Groweth..

2007-10-08T09:51:00.001-07:00

Catharina's weekend progress. Seems like it's growing (at least lengthwise) at a MUCH slower pace, but I'm knitting and knitting and knitting even more than ever on it. I guess that'd be how it gets to be wide enough.

Daisy wore her 49er regalia during the game, and gave it her best cheer-leading effort, but the poor Niners just missed pulling another one off. Their defense is pretty exciting to watch, but the offense needs a little work work. OK...maybe a lot of work. Norv shoulda stayed with us. Even though, finally the Chargers were looking back to their old form this weekend and made Norv look a lot better for a change.

Shawl Progress

2007-10-04T10:16:00.000-07:00

Well, it kind of looks like a blobby mess right now, but I think I'm probably about 20% - maybe a bit more at this point. I'm leaving the lifelines in as repeat markers. Most of the time, now, I'm not having trouble with getting the yarn-overs in the right place, but occasionally I have noticed where one got either left out or put in at the wrong time. Overall, though, it's coming out according to the chart. It has been a learning experience for me. Sure hope by the time it's finished, I'll finally be a "lace knitter." Especially since I have at least 2 more lace projects in my queue on Ravelry.

Mixing football and knitting...

2007-10-01T13:01:00.000-07:00

Renaissance woman

n.
A woman who has broad intellectual interests and is accomplished in areas of both the arts and the sciences.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Here's my knitting and watching football spot. As can be seen by the background NOISE - other interests also prevail here in fiberland - sewing, quilting, as well as a couple of other crafty things. (I need to get the curtain made for that doorway.) My Catharina shawl is still on the needles and growing. I have actually finished the first repeat of the charts. My plan now, is to do the lifelines after each successive repeat so I will have a way of counting how many repeats I have finished.

As football Sunday turned out, there were no miracles in store for the 49ers - more injuries in fact, but the Cowboys sure had a great game against the Rams. Brett Favre had a record-breaking day (and another win!), and the Giants had their way with the Eagles. We also watched part of an exciting Oakland/Miami game, but weren't able to see the whole thing - had to leave for a while. Tonight's the Patriots and the Bengals, so that should be a good one. Even if it's not - it's more time to make lace!

Knit on!

Football Sunday and Shawl Progress

2007-09-30T08:10:00.000-07:00

I'm finally making actual progress on Catharina. I'm a little amazed at the power of a lifeline. Since I started using it, I haven't had to rip the thing out. I have had to "t-i-n-k" back a couple times, but no actual sigh/rip episodes have happened. Likely, it's because I have memorized the pattern to some extent from all the times I've KNITTED it. Whatever the case, I'm keepin the string handy.

Today the 49ers play the Seattle Seahawks. So, let's hope I can multi-task today - follow a lace chart AND root for the Niners. (I have another easy sock in progress just in case things get too dicey.) I'm of course watching with the HOPE of a win, but with the resolve that they're still working on being a force to be reckoned with, and so far this year - they aren't so much. On the other hand...the Cowy-boys are playing the Rams today. I don't think it's going to be televised in our area though, so MP won't get to see his 'boys whoop on the Rams. No sense spoiling the Rams perfect record of 0 wins, right?

Catharina and the Life Line

2007-09-27T10:45:00.001-07:00

1st ripped... 2nd ripped...

You know how you find a lace pattern that seems like it'll work with:
a) Your ~~rank beginner~~ lace knitting skill level, and
b) The yarn you have on hand;

and, you know how you start knitting along and you're thinking "cool! I'm knitting LACE. I think it's going to work this time. Geeze I don't think I even need to use that stinking lifeline...."

and then...you know how you look down at your knitting one day and you've got like 80 stitches on THIS side of the middle part, and about 74 on THAT side, and they're supposed to be mirror images of each other (and amount to 73 on each side)? Yeah, so, then you kind of sigh, maybe mutter something unintelligible, and then rip it back to a beginning point and try it again....

And then you know how you repeat that SAME PROCESS about 4 or five times, and THEN decide maybe it's not so much trouble throwing in a lifeline afterall? No? Oh. I wondered if anyone did that. Just a hypothetical question.

It's not like I'd actually be so thick-headed as to wear out a ball of yarn knitting it like 6 times before I finally gave in and did the sensible thing. Nope. Not me. See...I've got a lifeline. Pay no attention to that poor little worn out ball of yarn there and the wrong exposure for the light I had. It's fine. Really it is. Maybe I should take it into the bathroom and photograph it. I bet it'd look better that way. That may be the only place I'll be able to wear this one when I've finished with it.

Sometimes, I think maybe lace isn't my thing. If it wasn't so fun to do I'd give it up completely and just knit socks. Fortunately for me, I'm still young enough at this whole knitting thing, that the process fascinates me. The PRODUCT usually is gifted to someone who doesn't knit, and they think getting hand-knit socks, or a scarf or hat is just an awesome thing. But I really need to get this lace thing down. I just got my Kauni yarn from Astrid, and I want to make her shawl pattern with it (for me!). I'm needing to get to the point where I'm accomplishing more than just knitting and ripping.

So, OK....I think I learned the whole "life line" lesson. Now, to get this poor thing knitted up before the yarn is just too haggard and worn out to actually use for anything besides a bathmat/toilet cozy.

Blog photography

2007-09-26T08:08:00.001-07:00

I'm really only curious about this. Just kind of musing today. But...Why do knit bloggers take pictures in the bathroom mirror for their blogs? Do they not have a tripod? Isn't there somewhere outside in the daylight they could set their camera, or perhaps a sunlit room of their home, where they could use a piece of furniture to position the camera, then set the timer while they run around and pose before the shutter snaps? Maybe they don't have a timer feature on their camera. What about a good friend to push the button? I mean, this is a NICE bathroom (BTW: Is that not a gorgeous sweater???), and I really like seeing nicely designed bathrooms, but that's usually on a web site like HGTV, or maybe Lowes or Home Depot. I have seen knitting blog pictures taken in mirrors splattered with toothpaste, with not so complimentary old tile reflected in the background, and the sink clutter that a well-lived-in home can sometimes provide. Oh, and the ones where the flash goes off are amusing - big bright ball of FLASH, and then the item being photographed/modeled below that. I got a great laugh over CAP's office restroom pics of her scarf with the big pom pons - well not so much the laugh from the pictures, but rather the funny captions she added. I "get" that they make kind of an instantaneous way of getting the picture framed well, I just think it's strange that people do that. Of course I guess it's no stranger than - say, hypothetically speaking - photographing yourself cutting your hair in the bathroom mirror...but that's a bathroom activity. Knitting - well, so far I don't think I have taken it into that particular room.

Wovens conquered

2007-09-25T09:58:00.001-07:00

Busy weekend, this past week. Part of it was spent conquering the stack of woven fabrics which became this year's PJ/MT uniforms. I had a little trouble finding buttons to work. I guess my button stash is not quite big enough! My PJs are from Purrfection Artistic Wearables, pattern #1033 Night & Day. I have made it before, as well as the Kimono style robe and really like the pattern's fit. MP's night shirt is a discontinued Kwik Sew pattern, but they have another one that's quite similar in their catalog.

I prefer the way KS patterns are written - and they seem to fit well too with minimal adjustments needed - I lengthened this shirt for MP 4 inches - but he's very long in the torso and lengthening a PJ top is no problem. I don't think I made any adjustments to my pattern, although I did chose to stitch the facings down. The KS pattern had that feature, and I like it for PJs because if you chose to sleep in them the facings get all wrinkly and don't lay flat.

More pics on my Flickr page, including detail close-ups.

Sneaking up on wovens.

2007-09-19T11:58:00.001-07:00

We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming of "knit-it/rip-it, knit-it/rip-it, knit-it/rip-it", to bring you this enchanting tale of Sewing with EllyMae: The PJ's 2007 Episode:

My favorite online fabric store Denver Fabrics, is having a fabulous sale because they've sold off their online store to someone else, so they're liquidating the fabrics. I'd been eyeing the scrubs fabrics for a while, because I thought they'd make some good pajama type clothes (read: "work uniforms" for the self-employed Medical Transcriptionist), so when I got the sale notice, I figured I'd best get the fabrics while they were still there. I pointed and clicked, and the fabric arrived this week. I love fabric. I have a much larger stash of fabric than I do of yarn, but I don't sew nearly as much as I once did (and I don't have ANY scrub fabrics, so it was indeed a necessary purchase) because of time and space limitations - and well, now I knit, so there you have it...but I digress...

As I was saying, the day finally arrived when the nice UPS man delivered the package of scrub fabrics. Much rejoicing and fabric fondling ensued. Ah yes! I got this peice for this item, and this one for this item, and what was this one for? Hmm...no biggy, I'll figure something out for that one - and then "The Dance" began.

The Dance? What is The Dance??

The Dance is how I get around to a sewing project.

First the new fabrics are admired and enjoyed as they come out of their packaging. This is sort of bowing to your partner, like they used to do back in the olden days before a dance.

Next, the participants (in this case fabrics) are thrown into the washer and dryer for pre-shrinking, and getting the sizing off. I'm not sure what this would correspond to in an ancient minuet, but it's a necessary part of this Dance.

Next step is ironing, then cutting and sewing. Here they are as they rest atop the ironing board waiting for the iron.
So, anywhoooo...as I said: I tossed them in the wash, dried and folded them, and stacked them on the ironing board.

Then I cleaned out a closet.

Then...I cleaned out the fridge - because as we all know, no sewing project is complete without a clean refrigerator, right?

I came back and petted them and rechecked my mental notes of which piece would be used for which garment.

I fixed the kick plate on the bottom of the dishwasher that had been missing a screw for about 6 months now.

Hmmm...this kitchen floor could use a little cleaning.

I wonder how the dust-bunny population under the bed is faring?

Perhaps there's another closet that needs cleaning......

Soon, the wovens will be completely lulled into a state of unawaredness with The Dance, punctuated occasionally with the soft and dulcet tones of knit-it/rip-it, knit-it/rip-it, knit-it/rip-it in the background. They will be convinced that their only purpose in life is now to occupy the end of my ironing board, softly wrinkled and happy with their lot in life. It's at that precise moment (and once all cupboards and closets have been reorganized, alphebetized and stacked according to height) that they will then be conscripted and refashioned into the PJ's.

And THAT'S how we sneak up on wovens.

(Cue background sound effects: 'knit-it/rip-it, knit-it/rip-it, knit-it/rip-it, knit-it/rip-it, knit-it/rip-it, knit-it/rip-it....')

Scarf knitting for men

2007-09-18T12:19:00.001-07:00

The Fall 2007 Issue of Knitty is up. There's a very cool scarf pattern called "Henry" as one of the latest patterns. It looks more woven than knitted. Personally, I'm a girl, and I'd like that scarf for myself. Besides, I guess it's because I live in California, but I really don't know any scarf-wearing men. I'm sure it's just a west coast thing. We don't have blowing ice and snow to walk through on our way to the office. But, really, this is a great manly looking scarf if anyone did have a man who wore scarves to knit for...or a tailored women's scarf for all of us west coast-ers.

Two socks, same length, on purpose...

2007-09-10T09:39:00.001-07:00

I'm terrible about counting rows, and that little tip from the Knit-Picks podcast for counting rows was just what I needed to finally get them the same length on purpose - without guesswork, ripping, cursing, or shoulder-shrugging and hoping it's not that big of a deal. I started a piece of scrap yarn, just laying it in between a couple of stitches, right after I finished the final row of the gusset decreases. Then, each 10 rows, I brought it up and laid it between the same two stitches, weaving it back and forth every 10 rows. The first sock length took about 3 weaves, and then 5 rows before I started the toe, so it was laid thru the stitches after row five (for a total of 35 rows to fit my big feet!), then the toe decreases, closed the toe and done. Next sock, repeat same process and Ta-Da! socks are the same length. Now, why didn't I think of that sooner?

Yarn: Lang Jawoll - used 2 skeins, but had enough left over to make baby booties or socks with.
Needles: Size 0 for cuff ribbing, then size 1/32 Profi circulars, Magic Loop technique
Gauge: 9 st/inch
Pattern: Cuff-down generic sock, stockinette stitch over 72 stitches.

I have a feeling these socks are going to wear very well. They have acrylic in them. They're soft, but not as sweet feeling as socks with a higher wool content. The yarn was a good price though, and I feel it has made a nice pair of all-purpose socks.

Socks and Dishcloths

2007-09-04T10:27:00.000-07:00

They make nice weekend knits. I finished most of the ball of yarn I started with for the Grandmother's Favorite cloth. I used a pattern that I had knitted last year (and made a royal mess of the lace pattern in it). This time, it came out close to how it's supposed to look - although I missed a couple of yarn-overs. I also added a crochet'd hanging-loop and bordered it also with a single crochet edge. It is currently occupying top spot in the dishcloth box. It blocked out to almost the size of the small pizza box.

I got the pattern from the Monthly Dishcloth Yahoogroup last year. It's probably in the archives there, or in the Files section if you want to join the group. Here's their promote button to click...like you need to be in another YahooGroup, right?

Click to join MonthlyDishcloths

I'm actually a little farther than this on the Talking Sock. I have the heel turned and am working the decreases in the gusset. Pretty soon, that other piece of turquoise Cascade 220 will be pressed into service to count the rows knit before starting the toe - and I am looking forward to having socks of the same size on purpose! (I have actually accomplished it before, but it was by holding my breath and squinching up my face a certain way - which I forget how I did it each time I start a new pair of socks).

I probably would have gotten more done on the sock, but I got side-tracked by one of the shawl projects I have in my Ravelry queue and cast on for it while watching a movie. It's from the Knitter's Magazine book Shawls and Scarves. It's one that Meg Swanson contributed called "The Yellow Shawl" and is in Faroese style. So far the selvedge has been pretty easy! Garter stitch with a decrease thrown in here and there - now that I am capable of! I'm about ready to start the charts now - looked up the errata on XRX's errata page and have that printed out, so, we shall see how far my capabilities hold out. Hopefully I'll be successful with it.

Speaking of the errata pages - Ravelry has a really neat feature with listings and the links to knitting pattern book errata on the web. It's in their Wiki section. And, I had not yet thought to check for any on this pattern, until I looked at some others finished projects on Ravelry who have made the shawl, and one person mentioned the errors in the pattern in their comments on the shawl. VERY convenient to be able to see how these projects went for others before diving into it personally.

Have I mentioned how absolutely COOL Ravelry is? Don't worry, if you have signed up and haven't gotten your invite yet, they're working fast and furiously on getting them sent out.

Sunflower Tux

2007-08-31T21:58:00.001-07:00

My sister's cat "Tux" taking time to smell the sunflowers. (Click for big.)

What's not to love?

2007-08-30T15:57:00.000-07:00

Simple, practical, and hard working, and a face only a grandmother could love. It's off the needles and in the pizza box. (Those little "leftovers" pizza boxes are perfect for storing dishcloths in.)

Now that I got that dishcloth urge out of my system, I'm itching to cast on about a half a dozen projects. That's kind of a terrifying thought, but I swear I might just.

These will be one of them. I guess I'd better get that second "talking" sock done and out of the sock knitting bag so I can put the grey sock yarn in there.

Gentle thoughts

2007-08-29T12:42:00.001-07:00

For some reason, after I finished the felted slippers, I couldn't decide which was next up. I have lots that I want to do - my Ravelry Queue has me nicely inspired. (What a great idea is Ravelry?!) I turned to my second talking sock - for which I don't FEEL like I'm plagued with the "syndrome" but perhaps I'm in denial. I cast on, and got the ribbing started on it, then put that down. That's car knitting anyway, so it kind of doesn't count. Looked at a couple of WIPs that are hiding in the shadows of my knitting basket - kept moving. Looked at the brown Cascade 220 that I purchased for another pair of Felted Clogs - decided to let that "steep" in the stash for a little longer - and then ran across a ball of dishcloth yarn. I reached in the needle box, took out "Ruth's needles," cast on a few stitches, and started doing a nice, mindless Grandmother's Favorite Dishcloth. While humble and shamefully easy - this is actually one of my favorite dishcloths to use (and probably my favorite one to knit). I think the dishcloth stash box needs at least one in there, maybe more. It's such an easy knit that I can read while I knit. EZ said it could be done, reading while you knit, and I'm finally learning that it's true. Occasionally it gets a little bit hard when the knitting grows and starts laying on your book or magazine, but no doubt I'll master that learning curve eventually too.

Ruth's needles are plastic red ones, and are 10-inch long size 8s...the perfect size for making this dishcloth. I wonder if that's what she used them for... The needles I usually use for making dishcloths are aluminum, size 6, and are quite a bit longer. These red ones are a cheerful color, a gentle touch because they're plastic, and my gauge is just fine with them (4.5 st/in) as long as I don't knit continental.

Ruth was the mother of a friend of mine. She had no grandchildren, I never met her, but I admired her. She lived by herself in a small house in the northern part of California - the part of California where it snows in the winter, and gets blistering hot in the summer, and where fire danger was a yearly concern. Her son would come up in the Spring and Fall each year,and ready her house for the upcoming season. He would get her some firewood cut and stacked, or weeds whacked, or fix the roof if it needed it, and the whole rest of the year, except for a visit or two from her son, she'd take care of her own needs. She was independent, and able to stay that way up until she died. After her death, he brought me some of her needlecraft things because he knew of my interest in all things fiber. I have used some tatting that she had in her stash on my grandchildren's clothing, or edging for other fibery art. I often wonder if she would be happy that her stash is being used in a way that [hopefully] honors her.

So, as I sit knitting a dishcloth on the pair of plastic red knitting needles, I think of Ruth, the same way that I think of my own grandmother when I'm using things I inherited from her sewing stash. I lived close to my grandmother as a child, and when I inherited her sewing stash, as I sorted through it, I recognized fabrics and patterns she had used to make clothes for my dolls when I was 8 years old. (Amazing how long SOME things marniate in the stash, isn't it?) I wonder if my grandchildren will do the same some day. I wonder if they'll appreciate working with their hands, making things that other people think "why don't you just buy that?"

Life is so full of trade-offs. Sometimes the trade offs make things you wish for unobtainable. My visits with my grandchildren are all too few and far-between now - a result of one of life's trade-offs. I guess they won't have the same type memories of me that I had of my grandmothers and great grandmothers. But, I wonder if, by the time they are grandmothers, they will be able to appreciate the difference between an heirloom and a disposable item? I wonder if they'll find value in a simple pair of knitting needles. I wonder if they will know that this was their Grandmother's Favorite Dishcloth?

Felted Clogs for Michael

2007-08-27T11:02:00.001-07:00

Yarn:Valley Yarns Northhampton which is an Aran/Worsted range 100% wool, purchased from WEBS. One skein of Midnight blue, and 2 skeins of the silver color.
Needles: Denise circulars size 13 and size 10.5 to pick up stitches.
Gauge: Probably 4-5/inch - kind of moot since I felted them, but it was about that.
Pattern: Fiber Trends Felted Clogs, by Bev Galeskas, purchased online at One Fine Yarn.
Size: Men's Large.

As I mentioned - I only bought one skein of blue, so I did end up having to fudge a little, but it only took 3 skeins of yarn.

I love this yarn. It's so soft and cozy to knit with - although not always appreciated in the 100 degree Fahrenheit heat we have been having.

I put Regia "sock stoppers" on these for a little traction; purchased a while back from Astrid. I think she has some still on her sale page. We will see how long these last. I may try the silicone next.

Began: August 22, 2007
Finished: August 26, 2007 (While I watched the Cowboys LOSE to the Houston Texans. From one 49er fan to another - gee, isn't that too bad? And - how alarmingly good does Houston look this year? OY.)

The Red Zone

2007-08-26T11:30:00.001-07:00

That's "NFL speak" for "almost done" These clogs are typical to my knitting style: underestimate yardage needed to complete the task, get to that point where you have run out of the color you need to finish - shrug your shoulders and improvise! So, now MP will have no problem determining which foot goes in which slipper - on account of they're slightly different. I have one more sole to finish before time to put them in the washer for their felting. So, here they are in "the red zone." I might needle-felt a star on the plain one just to make it even more "Cowboys" - but maybe not.

Something new to try

2007-08-22T09:52:00.000-07:00

This is WEBS Valley Yarns Northampton, and is what I would consider a "reasonable facsimilie" of Cascade 220. It's more along the lines of a light worsted weight, perhaps a chubby DK weight, but it's knitting up pretty similar to the Cascade 220 into yet another pair of clogs. This pair is in Michael's favorite football team's colors.

I have the other "leftovers" clog finished and felted. I didn't make two of them. Just did the one, felted it down, and now I have a re-tread for my right slipper. My left slipper has a small wear spot on it, but I'm just going to wear the new right one for a while, and then make the brown clogs up, and will have a new set that's all "matchy matchy" rather than a clog of many colors. Apparently, I just don't seem to stay motivated when I'm using up yarn. I think in the future, I'll just save the leftovers for doing a Baby Surprise Jacket, or something like that.

How to: Make a Real Ice Pack for $0.30

2007-08-20T11:15:00.001-07:00

(Interesting tip from Dumb Little Man - Tips for Life)
"Target was selling real ice packs one day and she bought 6 for $40. I still don't understand this purchase and while it's too late for me, I looked for other alternatives that didn't cost me $40. Turns out the answer is simple and that we almost had it!"

read more | digg story

One (talking sock) down...

2007-08-19T21:20:00.000-07:00

One to go! I used the turquoise yarn to count rows of 10. So, lets see if it works to get sock #2 close to the same length as sock #1. This one seems to fit just right. I started the toe at 55 rows, and decreased down to 12 stitches on each needle before Kitchnering it closed. I planned to do a reinforced toe (the thread comes with the yarn), but I forgot. The heel turn has reinforcement. I'm not sure if the reinforcement thread is the acrylic or the nylon listed on the "ingredients" on the yarn label.

Little by little I'm figuring out what my "plain vanilla" sock should knit up to. Ideally, I would probably make the top of it a little longer, but this one is going to make a nice every-day sock to wear with jeans and Birks.

More perspective

2007-08-16T12:58:00.001-07:00

(Hound added for perspective.)

Heel flap portion of Talking Sock, basking in the crepe myrtle filtered sunlight of my porch. I have started on the second sole for the second Shrek slipper, but ran out of one of the leftovers I'm using for yarn for the soles - so now a decision has to be made - buy another skein? or break in to the next pair's yarn. Think I'll just work on the Talking Sock for a while, whilst I ponder this conundrum.

Meanwhile back at the ranch...I decided for some reason, to check the hoses on the washer this morning. The last set I purchased were the cheepo's - and this is what I found.

See, it's supposed to be only the diameter of the brass fitting part. It's not supposed to look like it's retaining water.

So, MP went to the hardware store and we replaced it with the nice bendy metal kind. The cold water one seems fine. I think this one just got too soft from the hot water use. So thankful to have caught it before it decided to burst. Changing the hose gave me an opportunity to clean under the washer too. Not something I always do unless for some reason the washer has to be pulled out and away from the wall. See - there's a silver lining to every cloud.

Shrek Slippers and Talking Socks

2007-08-13T07:30:00.001-07:00

Not "real" Shrek Slippers, but they'd fit him! Although - they DO make some if you're wanting the real thing. I still am amazed at how MUCH these felted clogs shrink. They start out big enough to fit Shrek and then shrink down to - well, in this case they'd probably still fit him - MP's a big guy. I finally have most of one finished. I got a little stalled on the project because I hated the yarn choices I had. I was trying to use the leftovers from the stash I had on hand, and it just wasn't doing it for me. So, I decided I was just going to go buy more yarn and start them over. I got some nice warm browns to make them from, and, interestingly enough just knowing that I had that yarn available for my clogs made using up this yarn work for me. I just MIGHT make the brown ones for MP now. He needs slippers for this winter. Of course we had originally planned a different color scheme for his - Dallas Cowboy blue and silver - but brown will work.

Meanwhile...back at the bookshelf. KnitPicks and Interweave Press were both clearing their shelves recently, so, besides EZ's Opinionated Knitter winging it's way to my house - I also finally got WrapStyle and Felted Knits - two other books I've "always wanted" but had not yet sprung for. They were also 40% off. In fact KnitPicks is still tempting me with that sale, but I shall refrain from any further book-stash building for a while. I have plenty of projects forming in my mind for this season with just the books and magazines that I already have.

The next pair of socks on the needles I'm calling my "talking socks." I tried a few patterns from SKS, MSKS, as well as Favorite Socks - and I found that I can't talk and knit patterns. Finally, since I had folks around to talk to and I wanted to knit, I switched to just plain ol' stockinette with this tweedie looking Langwool yarn. Voila! Socks that I can talk with - or - "talking" socks.

I'm using a size 1 bamboo Profi circular on them with the "Magic Loop" method. These Profi's are such nice needles to knit with especially for Magic Loop because the cords are so flexible and they NEVER kink, the joins are smooth and the bamboo is just plain pleasant to knit with. I got them from Astrid on eBay a while back.

I'm getting 9 st/in gauge with this needle. Progress has been made to the heel flap, just doing a regular slip 1/knit 1 flap because the pretty eye of the partridge patterning gets totally lost in these colors - and then there's the "talking factor" so I don't have to keep track of what I'm doing with that heel flap either.

When I reach the foot, I plan to use the tip I heard on the KnitPicks podcast for getting the feet the same length. (I seem to remember reading that same tip once in one of EZ's books with regard to keeping track of the middle line of a steek, so I guess that makes this kind of an "unvention" right?) You lay a piece of scrap yarn across your first foot row, and every 10th row, bring it up and lay it over that row making a long "running stitch" woven through your knitting that represents how many rows of 10 you have knit. Then, when you go to knit your next sock - you know exactly how many rows are in your other sock to get them the same length. No guesswork. I ALWAYS guess wrong, and end up with usually the second sock being just a smidge shorter than the first one. I kind of wish I'd done that for the TOP of this sock, but I hadn't listened to the podcast yet! Oh well....hopefully I'll come close.

Vogue Knitting 25th Anniversary

2007-07-31T09:12:00.001-07:00

I feel like I just spent the morning hanging out with knitting celebs from the past and present. I just finished reading the two articles in the new VK - "Knitting's Old Guard Speaks Out" [an interview with Kaffe Fassett, Alice Starmore, Mari Lynn Patrick and Meg Swanson], and then "Chatting with Knitting's New Guard" [Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, Clara Parkes, Debbie Stroller, Shannon Okey and Vickie Howell]. There were little synopses about each person, as well as a small tribute to EZ - of course! - and even a phone conversation with Barbara Walker, who says she hasn't picked up a set of knitting needles in the past 11 years! It was such a fun read, and kind of a new twist for me because I'm really more of the "look at the pictures" girl with knitting mags. So in order for me to sit captivated by a couple of interviews, it really had to have the right feel. It FELT like I was sitting there in a coffee shop, hanging out and laughing, or nodding in agreement, or being amazed at the collective wisdom - especially of the ones they've deemed "old guard" - and that kept me interested and reading to the end.

It seems strange to me that Vogue Knitting has only been in publication for 25 years. But, there you have it - they're celebrating their Silver Anniversary - and did themselves proud with this issue. Beautiful lace scarves and sweaters in there by some great designers, as well as all the haute couture a knitter could desire - if one is in to that - but I think these interviews are really the highlight of the issue.

Windfalls!

2007-07-27T07:21:00.001-07:00

After the PinkSock4 episode wrapped up, I went to my meager stash to find my next sock project.

While I was there, I also pulled out the dishcloth yarn to see what I had there, since my dishcloth supply has also recently been depleted, and I like to keep a few of those on hand for hostess gifts. So....the two bags came out.

This is not the entire sum of my yarn stash, but I really don't have anything like what I've seen on knitting blogs around the internet. I have some handspun, and another bag or two of baby yarn, and that's about it. I guess it helps that we live in a small house, and have a small family budget - because my sewing/quilting stash used to be quite respectable "back in the day" - so I'm quite capable of hoarding fiber. ***grin***

Anyway, there I was with the dishcloth yarn and the sock yarn. I dumped the bags out on the bed to see what I had, and when I did, I heard coins jingle. "Hmmm...says I...where's the coin noise coming from?"

There was an envelope in the yarn bag. It had a post-it note with two plastic stitch markers taped to it inside - and $34 and change! Don't you just love it when you think you may have found some change you didn't know you had, and it's all hanging out with folding money too? Very cool!

How did THAT happen, you may wonder?

Well - we have one vehicle - and I work from home. Months ago, DH was on his way into the big city, and I told him I needed some things from JoAnn's. He volunteered to swing by there and purchase some dishcloth yarn and stitch markers that I needed (the stitch markers taped to the Post-It note were samples of the kinds of stitch markers I did not want). So, he planned to ask for assistance in the yarn department, tell them these were the SMs I already had, describe the ones I wanted, and purchase them along with a variety of dishcloth yarn. I sent him with money my mom had sent for me to spend on yarn. He had put the change in the bag with the yarn.

Apparently, I was so focused on getting the stitch markers, I just took those out of the bag, and a few skeins of dishcloth yarn, and I put the new dishcloth yarn stash in the closet with the rest of the sock yarn - and the envelope of "change!"

So guess who's going yarn shopping this weekend?

And that's not all! Along with the yarn money windfall - Amazon.com just e-mailed me a gift certificate.

I heart windfalls!

PinkSock4 FO

2007-07-26T07:28:00.001-07:00

Has it really only been a month and a half (or so)? It seems like this sock has been in progress for a year. Maybe it's because I actually started trying to make socks from this yarn in February of this year... and things went downhill from there. A couple of different toe attempts, a pattern change or two, and finally I settled in to this incarnation. They're for my mom. My son's cynical prediction was that I'd make one shorter than the other - and I must admit they're not both exactly the same length, so there IS still the possibility that one toe will come out and be re-knit before they're actually mailed - but at least NOW I have the finished object photograph!

I like the pattern. It's easy to follow, and easy to pick up and continue on after being away from it for a while. This was my car-knitting project, so wasn't a daily thing. A quick "PinkSock4" search on this blog will show there's been lots of OTHER stuff going on during the process. So, once I did that, I didn't feel quite so bad about how long it has actually taken from the day I chose the yarn, until the day I finished the socks.

The yarn bloomed some after washing, and is even softer now (also a "plus").

Here's the Specs:
Yarn: Gedifra 4207 purchased from Astrid.
Needles: Profi Bamboo DPNs size 0 (2 mm) - also from Astrid.
Gauge: 10 spi (oops!) Where did my 8.5 spi/gauge go???
Pattern: More Sensational Knitted Socks - 4-stitch patterns - Seeded Ribbing Check on the leg, and plain Seeded Ribbing on instep, inside-out Eye of Partridge German Chain heel, plain stockinette toe.
Size: I knit them for a size 9 narrow foot, so the tighter gauge is probably fine, especially with this stretchy pattern. I used a 64 stitch cast-on.
Began: June 1, 2007
Finished: July 23, 2007

Guess what I got?

2007-07-25T18:31:00.000-07:00

For 40% off - at KnitPicks? Yes! Don't you just love it when you're patient, and your patience is actually rewarded?

Gettin' there...

2007-07-17T10:50:00.001-07:00

It's the little things sometimes that show progress - like the ball of yarn suddenly looking smaller. You'd think it would be the fact that you're finally to the heel flap and successfully reprising your "inside-out eye of partridge" pattern, and gearing up to start the next pattern on the foot after the heel is turned and gusset begins. But this time, it's just this tidy little ball of yarn just sitting there. Nothing has been rewound on it for the 5th, or 6th or more-th time. Nope. It's just sitting there unwinding as I need more, and quietly getting smaller, and smaller, and smaller. Pretty soon, PinkSock4 in it's sock #2 incarnation will be done, and on it's way with it's mate to warm my Mama's feet. We're gettin' there! Slowly but surely....we're gettin' there.

Sock-Knitting Weather Continues...

2007-07-06T17:35:00.001-07:00

We have remembered to keep the butter in the fridge now - even at night. The 111 degree F temps convinced us that was probably our best chance of waking up to anything solid in the butter dish.

And as for sock #1 of the PinkSock4 set - FINALLY it's done! Now all we need is one more. I'm fine with knitting it in slightly cooler temps though.

Sock-Knitting Weather

2007-07-05T09:47:00.001-07:00

It's hot here. It's butter melting on the counter overnight kind of "hot" here. It's, A/C kicking on at 7:30 a.m. "hot" here.Today - supposed to be even hotter. And no, we do not live in the desert. I wouldn't live in the desert. Its too blasted HOT in the desert. So anyway, sock-knitting is good summertime knitting, at least when it's so hot you can wash your comforter and hang it over the porch rail to dry kind of hot at your house. Did I mention it's hot here?

Finally, PinkSock4 is allowing progress. I'm to the toe on sock #1. And so, to use a much hackneyed phrase from Blogistan (for the first time here) ALERT THE MEDIA! For some reason, this has been one sock that resisted getting knit! It's not even a difficult pattern. I'd knit it again - if there weren't so many other wonderful patterns to chose from in MSKS. Well, actually, come to think of it, I am going to knit it again - there's still another sock to knit for a pair. I should have all the pitfalls mapped and charted by now...at least you'd think so....

One of ~~many~~ a few mental notes I have made on this sock I will record here (because, as we know, the ol' memory ain't what she used to be):

4 dpns: One of the starts of this sock - the last one - was done on 5 dpns. I found that the pattern didn't skew quite as much though if I could put the pattern stitches (for the top of the foot) on one needle and just knit the pattern that way. The sole stitches I split over 2 dpns - and so I have become a 4 dpn sock knitter with this sock. (I guess PinkSock4 can stand for pink sock knitted on 4 dpns rather than the fact that it was ripped-out-and-started-over at least 4 times.)
The cuff spent most of its time on 5 dpns, and I'll likely repeat that for the second sock.
I want to get some solid colored sock yarn. Interestingly, the only solid colored sock I've ever made was from some corriedale that I spun - and it was just the natural "white" of the corrie. I think these stitch patterns really aren't done proper justice with the striping yarn - unless they're Jaywalkers or some other pattern that will do something interesting with the striping.

Just in case you haven't knit Jaywalkers and would like to know where the FREE pattern is - it's at MAG knits at http://www.magknits.com/Sept05/patterns/jaywalker.htm.
And a word of advice - don't question THOSE instructions either or you won't get your foot past the instep when you go to put the sock on. Do as you are told. You have been warned.

OK....off to get that toe finished and cast on and start PinkSock4(b)...may the force be with me (heaven knows the weather is)!

As heels go....

2007-07-04T09:19:00.001-07:00

I like it. As eye of the partridge heels go - I think it's "inside out." (Note to self: Don't question the veracity of someone as experienced at pattern writing and sock-making as Charlene Schurch...really, just don't.)

Why I do that, I will never know. It carries over into other areas of my life as well...like freeway signage. Who does this? A sign says your turn is approaching and you say to yourself, no, that can't mean MY turn, that doesn't seem RIGHT. I think I'll just keep going and see what's up here a ways - and of course, what's up there a ways is someone else's turn, because yours was back THERE - you know....where the sign first told you to turn?

So, anyway, not only do I see a lot of interesting places in my travels, apparently I also get to re-invent the heel occasionally as I knit. It's still a nice looking heel. And I'll do the next one - if this sock yarn ever ALLOWS me to GET to the second sock! - the same way, just so they match. But I think I'll try that heel again according to the directions on my next pair of socks, and see if I can get the prettier version.
(Here is the "inside of my work" which, as we now know, was supposed to have been the "public" or OUTside of my work.) "Different drummer"...dontcha know.

Sensational Sprial Binding

2007-06-18T07:13:00.001-07:00

Have I sung the praises of spiral binding lately? I "heart" spiral binding - especially on tightly bound, really good sock knitting blooks. There are a couple of ways to accomplish spiral binding on these books - one way is for the publishers to produce the book that way, as did, for instance, Interweave Knits in their Favorite Socks: 25 Timeless Designs from Interweavebook...the other way, is to take your book down to your local office supply/copy place and for really NOT that much money, have them slice off the spine and poke the holes and place the spiral binding.

I appreciate being able to lay the book flat open, rather than book-mark and continue opening to the page. For another thing, the spiral-bound book will also fit nicely onto a flatbed scanner (perhaps the reason some think it's not good to spiral-bind their book??) for copying. No - not for re-distribution, but so I can have the pattern stuffed into my traveling sock bag.

I can then constantly refer back to it. I use the word constantly literally here, since apparently my brain is no longer capable of memory. So, a simple little "seeded ribbing check" pattern I have printed and now I can "remember" the next step in the pattern, as well as keep track of my progress/repeats by making notations on the chart included with the pattern for PinkSock4 (which, I believe, is going to have 4 repeats of the entire pattern before I start the heel flap).

But anyway - back to the spiral bindings. I think it might be a good idea for publishers to think again about using these. That way, they have control over how the final product looks - you can have your book title/publisher name on the spiral binding - or you can just leave it to chance that your book is going to appear on someone's book shelf with your name showing. Interweave Knits - brilliant folks, don't you think?

WebStops - Knit Cupcakes

2007-06-11T18:36:00.000-07:00

How CUTE ARE THESE??

Felted Clogs

2007-06-11T08:59:00.001-07:00

I guess I wore them out... So, time to make a new pair. They won't match though - but I'm okay with that. As long as they 1) felt and 2) feel as wonderful as these do, the mish-mash of color will be fine. I'm using up the left-overs of Cascade 220 that I have in my eentsy-weentsy stash and there's not enough to make them all matchy-matchy - so the soles will be colorful. I've got some homespun that I can add to it if I run out (hopefully everybody will cooperate and felt the same amount if It comes to that!) so I'm fairly certain there's enough feltable worsted around here for yet another pair of these fabulous clogs - and maybe make the tops the same color - if not - well, then I'll have a "right" and a "left" notable by color rather than just the shape. The Fiber Trends Felted Clogs pattern can be found by Googling it, or I got mine from One Fine Yarn dot com. I have some of these that I think I'll try this time - maybe the bottoms will last longer.

PinkSock 4

2007-06-03T10:42:00.001-07:00

It is apparently just what we do now-a-days - remake things a number of times. See! Even movies. So, I've chosen to consider this the "sequel" to my attempts to turn this ball of sock yarn into a real sock. I'm calling it "Pink Sock 4"...I have high hopes for this one. It seems to be actually working finally. Not counting any chickens before they're hatched, yet, but I have found a pattern from the sequel to Sensational Knitted socks, called: More Sensational Knitted Socks - that the ball-of-yarn-that-refuses-to-become-a-sock seems content with so far.

As an aside - aren't these little teapot sachets cute? I might need to make those some day - I wonder how many tries it will take....

Think of the yarn storage possibilities!

2007-06-01T10:29:00.001-07:00

From the web site Desire to Inspire this looks to me like a stroke of genius.

Beginner's Lace

2007-05-30T07:03:00.000-07:00

Blocking wires - very cool.

This is the Scarf on Pg 80 of Victorian Lace Today. It is dubbed "Easy Lace." I decided that it would be better for me to be a bit more humble and start with something considered "easy" while I taught my brain to pay attention to a lace pattern. The Cherry Leaf shoulder shawl is still on my list of lace to knit - but I was wearing out the yarn ripping it out...so I decided to try something a little more my speed first. I did modify the repeats a bit (allowed for and explained how in the pattern) because I wanted to be sure to get it long enough from one skein of Handmaiden Sea Silk. So, instead of 7 repeats of the lacy ends, I only did five. I'm not so sure I wouldn't have had enough for 7 though, because I've got a pretty good amount left over. If I do it again in wool, I think I'll make all 7 repeats.

Needles: Addi Lace circulars, size 6.
Yarn: HandMaiden Sea Silk - approximately 2/3rds of a skein used.
Finished Dimensions: (Inches): 5.5 x 82

It's a pretty little thing. I love the colors.

I plied...

2007-05-25T15:07:00.001-07:00

What over-twist? I have no problem with over-twist...

I washed and dried...

The skeins all VYed for space in the Kitty Pi...

So now they're all made into center-pull cakes....what? Pi, cake...can I help it if it doesn't RHYME? They both sound like dessert, so that's going to have to suffice...while they await....

[cue "Jaws" music and background shrieks of terror...]

The Ultimate...

Sweater...

MACHINE!!!

What the ?????

Well, see, here's the deal: Some months ago, I found this cool technique for dyeing yarn, on Nancy Roberts' web site. So, even though I don't own one of those ~~high-dollar~~ particular knitting machines that she has available for sale on her site, I do own this contraption. I actually have never been able to make the blasted thing work worth beans, however, I decided to dig it out from it's spider-web enshrouded nook in my garage, and see if I couldn't at least get it to knit up these skeins of corriedale and mystery longwool/X yarn I've made. I want to try that dyeing technique. May need to find the duct tape while I'm at it to keep my mouth from uttering words I'd rather not - since I vaguely remember a very high level of frustration last time I attempted using this thing...and I wasn't using a ~~rather amateur-looking over-twisted~~ "novelty" worsted weight handspun at the time either....ahem....

Keyboard Shortcuts: How to type those "special" characters - Lifehacker

2007-05-24T11:14:00.000-07:00

Do you read "Lifehacker"? They come up with some nifty links and articles, like this one: Keyboard Shortcuts: How to type those "special" characters - Lifehacker, with a handy list, as well as links to other charts for keyboard shortcuts while either browsing the internet, or typing a blog post. This one at "Dumb Little Man dot com" is the one I liked most.

Ouch!

2007-05-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

Apparently my offspring does not dig knitted items. I was informed that his son will not be dressed in knits. He thinks they aren't going to be manly enough for his male child. Not sure if that pertains to the "denim jeans" - I didn't pursue the conversation after his initial statement...my heart was aching too much....but needless to say, the ladybug sweater is not under any great deadline goal now. I'm thinking maybe of finding a teddy bear that it will fit, and give THAT to my new grandson. Maybe. Evidently, for the son of my son - a knitted blanket is acceptable, and maybe a hooded jacket for winter...but the clothing stuff he's thinking only the girls should get. Who raised that boy???

It's time for sleeves now. I never really understood the whole "sleeve island" thing - but now that I'm down to knitting the sleeves I do see the wisdom in knitting them FIRST and then knitting the body....one never knows when the wind might be knocked out one's sails by their less than enthusiastic progeny.

I'm working on the lace again while I recover from the rejection, but I do still plan to finish the ladybugs...once the proverbial "they" send the dinghy out to "sleeve island" and rescue it.

Stinkin- cute

2007-05-11T08:24:00.001-07:00

...but I do not heart the yarn so much. I'm thinking Rowan owes some royalties - or at the very least much thanks to Kay and Amy for their generosity and support of Rowan's "Denim" yarn. The blue comes off on your hands while you knit with it (don't worry, it washes off without a problem), the yarn is stubborn and splitty and occasionally just decides to fray while you're stitching components together - BUT!....(click for bigger)

it sure does make a STINKIN' CUTE pair of jeans, now doesn't it?

I think it's worth all the inconvenience...and maybe even the expense - and I would absolutely recommend this stinkin' cute pattern to any grandma knitting for a new cowpoke in the family...although I wouldn't expect to actually fall in love with the yarn - here's the really good vendor on Ebay that I used - since most online stores I checked in the US don't always have it in stock - or if they did it wasn't the colors I needed for this pattern. Enjoy!

The Specs:

Pattern - Blu (free! at Knitty.com)
Yarn - Rowan Denim
Needles - 1 set US size 6 straights
Modifications - None to the pattern, but made a back pocket just for grins, and used Perle cotton for the embroidery instead of yarn.
Size made 6-12 months - but in my family this is probably a 0-6 months size. YMMV.
Finished measurements AFTER SHRINKING

Waist 16 inches
Hiney 18 inches
Length (cuffs up) inseam 5 inches/cuffs down inseam 7 inches

A few notes on assembly...

The knitting part is relatively straightforward - or at least a beginner/intermediate type could pretty much come up with something resembling what the pattern meant for you to make. So, after you're finished - and you get to try a couple of fun techniques like EZ's phoney seam, and knitting a mirror image of what you make the first time - you will end up with two pieces that you stack atop one another like this, and steam block (press them with your nice steamy Rowenta to roughly the same size/shape as each other).

Next - figure out which is the center front seam, and which is the center back:

I then chalked my embroidery lines on for the front "pockets" and "zipper".

I made a back pocket, just for fun. (Just like you're making a shawl - CO 3, knit, purl back, work in stockinette doing a M1 in 2nd and 2nd to last stitches on all the knit rows until you get to where it looks like that's enough, then work a few rows of stockinette, throw in a purl row on the knit side, stockinette for a few more for a facing, bind off (or put live stitches on waste yarn as with the waistband and stitch down later) and VOYla! - a pocket.

Now, my background is in sewing, so I did the waistband elastic a little differently than recommended in the pattern instructions. But, either way will work.

I sewed down my live stitches first, leaving an opening at the center back of the waistband, threaded my elastic through, zig-zagged it together over a piece of scrap fabric, and then closed the opening. I used a piece of 3/4" Lastin for my elastic. Love that stuff.

I also used Perle cotton for the embroidery in a kind of cheddar cheese color.

Progress on Ladybug sweater - sneaking up on steeks still, but haven't hidden it under a pile of yarn yet, so perhaps we'll have a sweater by this fall/winter...