Tidying Things Up

When DSis came to visit, we had a list of things to do. Or rather, things we didn't want to forget to do. We accomplished almost all of the list.  (How I love to mark things off a good list!) Many of the items involved visiting quilts stores in and about the vicinity, and while doing so, we picked up their free Row By Row Experience patterns.

Now here's the thing. This wasn't even on my radar until DSis showed up.  I have four (4!) quilts of varying sizes requiring quilting, and two (2!) more planned and ready to cut. I suppose that is beside the point because after we collected...I don't know...18 patterns, DSis reminds me to not stash them too far back in the closet.

Fast forward to the end of our visit. I return home and it is county fair season. Being retired now (WooHoo!) I am taking other's entries to the local fairs, and also able to watch the judging, which is awesome, but also time-consuming. I have those four quilts mentioned above to sandwich, one of which is a oversized monster. And then DSis starts sending me photos of her Row By Rows (RXR), which are looking awesome.

Again, here's the thing. These are cute little projects that are mostly easily done with small amounts of fabric (scraps!) and also a good way to learn a technique. Like fusible applique.  Back in the day, there was only needle turn applique which is pretty limiting. New fangled fusible bond makes applique magic and new machines have control and fancy stitching that even the Rocketeer can't really match.  (Or I haven't figured how to make it do so!). And I think...I should try one or two. They really are addictive.

So here's this other thing. When DSis finished hers, and then won the prize at her LQS, I WANTED A PRIZE, TOO! (Competitive, much? I have never denied that. Well, actually, I tried to, but gave up in 8th grade.) I kicked into high gear, and seriously did not much else but that damn RXR for four days. I was super focused. And a little bit crazy, I will admit, but finished it up on a Sunday morning. We took it to the LQS in Estes Park, and I won a fabulous stack of fat quarters.

Since then, I did the grocery shopping, since according WonderGuy (who was a PAL through this), we were down to CRUMBS in the pantry! I have picked up fair entries. (More PRIZES!!) The 110 degree sweater is done blocking (And is pretty darn awesome, too).

I have blocked a pair of socks and taken photos of the sweater, the socks, and two hats for Ravelry. The garden has started producing. And the house has been cleaned. and two small knitting projects almost complete.

So all tidied up, right?

Now I can start on the four quilts, and I have put patterns to yarn for (I am not kidding you) three sweaters and five shawls (of varying sizes).

No Negative Waves, Moriarty...

In an attempt to stay positive, and also keep my head busy, I will speak to the accomplishments of the last month, and not that I have been out of work for exactly that long.

Oops.

There has been a whole lot of knitting going on.  And none of it is being worn by me. Which I think is absolutely out of this world. My people are knit worthy, and I am so grateful that they are so grateful.

Eldest took these socks that I finished on the plane on the way to see her right after I was let go. (Yep, I got a trip back east for a consolation prize...deets will follow.) Crosshatch pattern from More Sensational Knitted Socks, by Charlene Schurch, out of Araucania Itata Solid.  This is a great pattern for a solid color that I will knit again.

A shop sample knitted up for a local LYS. Knit Hedgehog by Purl Soho, out of Cascade 220 and Eco Cloud.  That Eco Cloud was divine to knit up.  Too bad the project was so small!

Class examples for an upcoming class on felting/embellishing techniques. Felted Woolly Eggs, by Marie Mayhew, out of  Red Heart Wool among other things.  All that Red Heart I got from my aunt's stash in vintage colors were perfect for this.

A seamed sweater for the expressed purposed of practicing seaming. Pattern: Even Daniele Did It Again, from The Yarn Girls Guide To Kid Knits, out of Pingouin Acrylic I found at the thrift store.

Bartered felted mats for Precious Niece's new NY digs. The 40-Years Felted Platter by Katherine Vaughn (Rav link) out of Patons Classic Wool, my go-to workhorse felter. Also an above shot of the hedgehog, which was a really cute little guy.

Bartered felted slippers for Dearest Sister's cold midwestern toes. Duffers, 19-Row Felted Slippers by Mindie Tallack (Rav link) out of Bear Brand Four Seasons, another bit of Aunt Cissy's vintage haul.

And a simple hat to replace the one Only Step-Son has worn since 2008 and lost this year.  He felt very bad, but I say hey!  If you weren't wearing it, you wouldn't have lost it!  He was very impressed that I could make another EXACTLY like the one he loved.  Thank you, Ravelry, and my compulsive note keeping. My own beanie recipe out of Patons Classic Wool.

On the needles right now are 2 projects... a pair of socks, and a circular scarf out of handspun (another barter effort with Precious Niece I will speak to later), along with 'decorating' the last of Woolly Eggs.

My mother would be proud!

Tee Tiny Socks

Along the same lines of the last post, I made 11 tee-tiny Christmas Stockings as gifts for my Bunko buddies to give during our annual gift exchange.

Our gift exchange requires that we bring one gift of worth a small amount, which I did, but also brought the little handknit socks for all of them as a bonus.

They have come to realize my knitterly tendencies, and generally are complimentary to the handknits I wear to our gatherings.  A couple of them are crafty in their own rights, and one has joked in the past when we have exchanged gifts about looking for her handknit socks from me.  The idea of knitting them ornaments had been percolating in the back of my mind, and I determined last December that this was the year I would do it. And so I began.

About Thanksgiving.
For the get-together that was the 1st week in December.

Nothing like a deadline.

I used the 'Mini Stocking Ornament' (rav linky) pattern by Mara Jessup.  The cuff is a seed stitch rather than a rib which I think works better for a smallish object like this. For material, I went through my tail-ends, and pulled out all the ones that were of holiday colors in the weight range of fingering through worsted.  I used needles sized 2 (fingering and sport) and 6 (worsted), and magic-looped them all.

I hung them on the edge of a gift bag toward the inside, and let them all pick one as it was their turn to chose a gift.  It was a surprise, and they were tickled , comparing each to the other.

When we met for January, the tee tiny socks were made mention again.  Definitely worth the effort.
(But I am not sure I am a production knitter!)

MIne Are Knit-Worthy

Guess what? I made some of the gifts I gave to others.  Surprise!  While I have read and heard stories that this can be disappointing for some, I practice the attitude that once given, the gift is out of my hands for the recipient to do with as they will.  It is my choice to follow up with additional time and effort, but I hold no resentment or misgivings or second thoughts once I give a handmade gift.  Done and finished.

Before Christmas, Eldest asked for my Ravelry password, and snuck a pattern into my queue.  The Step-Daughter was traveling with us and saw a hat she liked, full of cables.  I said I thought that was within my capabilities.  She also commented that 'those infinity scarves sure were cool'.  We spent some time with the Rav search engine (which is AWESOME!). The aforementioned traveling took us to see my SIL, who questioned what it took to get on the 'slipper list'.  And Middle Daughter wanted handknit socks for Christmas.

SIL recieved the slippers enthusiastically, which I have heard fit beautifully.
I sent Middle Daughter a couple of pair of socks I knitted over the summer, which she unwrapped over the phone, and loves.  I think that gives her four pair.  I think she is ahead of the other girls.
Eldest and Step-Daughter unwrapped their handknits on Christmas with praises and compliments.  The articles were worn continuously pretty much until they left for their respective homes. Very heartwarming indeed.
And the little handknit ornament I made for Wisest Sister?  Made it to Facebook.  With many 'likes'!
I see the toes of handknit socks peak out from the cuffs of jeans.
And I see the hats of Christmas past on the fellow's heads.

Pretty humbling, and rewarding at the same time, I must say.  One needs others to knit for, really.  When we picked up Eldest from the airport, she commented on my sweater, and asked how many sweaters I had knitted for myself.  I counted them in my mind.

This one really needs others to knit for.

Done Deals

Spring Cardi

Sprout (rav linky), by Amy King, out of Andes Wool, buttons from the stash.

Interesting tidbit: The 3/4 sleeves ended up being 7/8 sleeves, and the cuffs not tight enough to hold them up, so out they came.  With enough yarn left, I lengthened the sleeves to full, and re-knit the cuffs with smaller needles.  Yea!  Also, the first button bands were all stretched out looking, so out they came as well.  I picked up more stitches with smaller needles, and also, second time around…remembered to add the buttonholes.  I have worn this several times already.  I am really very please with myself for ‘fixing’ it.  There was a time in my life when I would not have done that.  So good for me!

Tweed Pullover

Deeply Textured Tunic, by Melissa Wehrle (Interweave Knits), buttons from the stash.

Interesting tidbit: Adapted this into not so much a tunic, no waist shaping, a little widening at the hips (hey, don’t judge!)  I cast on for the smallest size but increased to the medium size…something to do with my gauge and size….anyway, being knit in the round, top down, I tried it on as I went, and it seemed to fit as it grew…and grew….and grew…this is one big sweater out of aran weight.  And then after blocking, I decided the hip increases just increased the look of my hips.  NOT necessary, thank you very much.  And also...made it a tunic.  If I hadn't abbreviated this thing, I would have had a dress at this point.  Anyhoo...I unpicked and frogged back to the increases, knit in the pattern another inch and a half, then added the ribbing.  Done and done.  And much better in my opinion.  Unless we have one last cold snap, I probably won’t have a chance to wear this puppy until next fall.  The joke among my knitter peeps is this might stop bullets...

Three Months of Knitting

(including Christmas)

Mittens

Toddler's and Children's Mitten, by Bev Galeskas, from Felted Knits, out of Porcupine Alpaca, Louet Riverstone, Paton's Classic Wool, andThirteen Mile Lamb andWool. Hand section is knitted and felted. Cuffs are then picked up and knitted.  I have not heard whether or not they fit or work.  I know they were awesomely cute as knitted!

Hats











Aviatrix, byJustine Turner (Rav linky) out of Bernat Alpaca Natural Blends, Debbie Bliss Cashmerino, Louet Riverstone, and Thirteen Mile Lamb and Wool.  This is an fantastic pattern, well written, and adjustable for several sizes from newborn to young children.

Slippers

Mohair Ballet Slippers, by Bev Galeskas, from Felted Knits, out of Mountain Colors Weavers Wool Quarters and Patons Classic Wool, without the mohair...another absolutely awesome pattern from this book.  I am ready to cast on a pair for Youngest Daughter, who has worn through her French Press Slippers.  I love it when my gifted handknits are loved to death.

Sweaters

Easy Baby Cardigan, by Diane Soucy (rav linky), out of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino.  Both the pattern and the yarn went well together, and worked.  Also washable.  Diane Soucy wins as a designer for me.

Mothed, by Mags Kandis (Knitty.com link) out of double stranded #2 Shetland...I have no more information than that!  Oh, and it's really not Mothed...I didn't really follow the chart.

Socks

A couple of different patterns from Sensational Knitted Socks, by Charlene Schurch, out of Brown Sheep Wildfoote.  Love the socks.  Yarn is very splitty.

 & Bags

French Market Bags, by Polly Outhwaite (Knitty.com link) out of Brown Sheep Lambspride Worsted, Nature Spun Worsted, and Louet Riverstone.  A great pattern with some adaptation.  For me, it was suppose to be a stash buster, but unfortunately, I ended up having to buy yarn to finish.  Whatever, the girls love them.

And this one for me...and Apollo...
Ilene Bag, by Hannah Ingalls, (rav linky) out of Maggi's Linen

That's some of what's been keeping me out of trouble.

Dead Serious Knitting

Gathered Front Tank (rav linky) by Mercedes Tarosavich-Clark (Interweave Knits, Spr 11) out of Maggi’s Linen.  Had to buy a short sleeved tee for the proper look, and it wasn’t even on sale.  But I am lovin’ this and I get comments pretty much every time I wear it.  Happened that I had the exact recommended yarn on hand from Yarn Garage Sale Lady #1.   Love it when a plan comes together. Note: buttons from my stash, from a card marked 25 cents!

Weekend Pullover (rav linky) by Diane Soucy (#224) out of Tahki Yarns Baby Tweed.  Took this on our September vacay.  Had lots of this yarn on hand from the Yarn Garage Sale Lady #1, so figured out how much I needed when packing for the trip.  Oops…I looked at grams (100) not yards (60).  Yeah, so as I was closing in on the body, and quickly knitting through the last ball, I was wondering WTH?!  I had plenty at home.  Extra, even…if I had been knitting with sz 17’s as the pattern called for.  The largest needles I have are 15’s, which I considered big enough, and certain gave me a gauge pretty close.  However, the 15’s were small enough to require enough more rounds to eat up all my extra yarn.  The sleeve edges have an abbreviated trim, but the sweater blocked out to fit just fine.  I am glad I don’t have any extra length to the sleeves, actually.

Shalom (rav linky)  by Meghan McFarlane out of Elizabeth Austen Wool of the Andes.  I knit this once, and blocked it, thinking that looks mighty long…and it was.  Down to my knees long.  Yes, there were some things in the directions I overlooked.  I do swatch, albeit an abbreviated routine.  What I didn’t remember was the line about the original piece being knit for someone 6 ft tall.  To my credit, I realize I was never going to wear the sweater as it was, and having a skein left over, I decided to reknit the thing, with a double strand.  So I picked the woven end from the bind off…and pairing with the end of the fresh yarn?  cast on and started my new Shalom…knitting a sweater from a sweater!  I don’t need no stinkin’ re-skeining!  The new knitting allowed me to remember all three buttonholes, and fix an error in the buttonband.  I like the finished project very much.  Maybe I should knit everything twice? Note: buttons from my stash, 3 leftovers from I don't know how far back in time.

Summer Swing Cardi, by Jessica Grzedzinski, out of Reynolds Mandalay (100% silk).  Ooh la la.  I love this yarn.  Looking at the projects in Ravelry, I figured out how to make this larger  (36” bust) than written (32” bust), because I am not…you know…a teenager. It took math and gauge swatches and starting over once, maybe twice, but I figured it out (I thought). And so I knit and purled to my hearts content all through Zion and Bryce and back, with hardly a thought.  Perfect project for knitting while viewing the scenery, and the perfect yarn for it as well.  Well, yes.  As it got closer to being finished, I was having some thoughts about it being…scanty.  I measured my gauge again.  Yep, 4 st/inch…18 inches across…2 x 18 = 36…but after seaming, the sweater was really tiny!  I was not undone, though.  I didn’t weave in any ends (because, bigod, if this pattern didn’t work, this yarn was going to be something else, something else for me!), and I soaked it and blocked it out to 36 ½ “.  After drying, it was much better, even passable, but I had one ball of yarn (plus a bit) left, and I thought I could maybe pick up stitches along the front and add bands to bring the edges close together.  I added about 6 rows of garter, before binding off one side too tight.  After adding the garter edging on the other side, I knew I was on the right track. I un-bound off the first and added some more garter rows before binding off with larger needles.  Perfect. End result was 10 ridges of garter on each side.  No button.  Doesn’t look like any of the other projects from this pattern on Ravelry.

Eldest’s Yoga Mat Bag, Om Nava Shivaya Bag, by Audrey Loopy, out of Tahki Yarns Brilla. Just like mine.  Only it matches the swimsuit cover up I knitted for her…using up my leftovers.  Hope she likes it as much as I like mine.

Like I said...some deadly serious knitting.

FOs...IRL

(finished objects...in real life)

Eldest on the beach in her cover-up. Even after a week, it was still good to go, if sagging just a smidge.  She tells me that once home, a round in the washer and dryer brought all the bounce back.

My shoulder shade at the wedding.  It served perfectly, as the wedding was moved inside due to the weather.  I was wanting something on my shoulders through the evenings activities.

As I said, when knitting meets real life and works, well, that's real nice!

Back Again

My back has been giving me grief.  So much so that the end of last year I went to a physical therapist.  She who detests such infringement on time, finances, and prefers more of a holistic approach to healing...went for some PT.  And apparently I whined about it enough that Eldest Daughter deemed yoga might shut my trap, and has been paying for some sessions.

All joking aside, my back was not letting me sleep at night, and seriously not getting any better, and I was very frustrated because I try very hard to do...well...everything right.

I was even more frustrated because during the time we were in Cancun, and for a few days upon our return, I had respite from pain!  I thought I was cured by the beach and seawater!  But alas, it was 'back' on me by the end of the week.

But then I thought to myself...self...there was another time recently that it wasn't so bad...upon the return from your recent visit to see Eldest.  I had put that to a new mattress and starting yoga however, and also starting up the biking again, and really altogether too many variables to zero in on a cause, and who cared because it didn't last.

However, I am of a scientific nature.  And I continued to hurt.  And I wanted to figure this out and find an answer.  Why did my back not hurt so much those two times?  Was there a common variable?

Why, yes.  There was.  I didn't carry my fabulous hand tooled red leather bag on either trip, that I bought in October, right before my back went south big time.  (I knew that thing was too big when I bought it.) (But, oh...it was...and is...fabulous...)

Last weekend I changed out bags.  I am still getting past the twinges and the soreness, but I am getting past it.  I don't feel worse daily and I am sleeping better. Seriously I felt the difference almost immediately.

Crazy.

In the meantime?  I have fallen in love with yoga.  Behold.

Om Nava Shivaya Yoga Mat Bag, by Audrey Loopy, out of Tahki Cotton.  (If it stretches?  I can toss it in the washer and dryer!)

The i-cord handle threads though the top and is grafted back at the bottom!

That's an i-cord bind off...my first, and it was tricky!  I need to do it again before I can claim that I know how to do it.

I think the bottom looks awesome. I might firm up this with a circle of cardboard.
Maybe. Maybe not.

Finished!

(And with 10 days before she heads to Mexico!)

For Eldest…

For the beach at Cancun…

(I know...it's not her, and it's not with a swim suit...work with me here...)

For her wedding stay…

From Vogue Knitting (Summer 2011), out of Filatura Di Crosa Brilla.  Thanks to Ravelry, I found extra yarn in Canada and a fellow raveler who felt she could trade for some handspun.  I made it longer than the pattern suggested.  I edged the slits for the belt.  I added a selvedge stitch to each side of the front and the back.

I think it turned out okay. I hope she does, too.

In Other News

The evening before I left for the right coast, I attended a ‘Fixing Mistakes’ class at my LYS.  It was a 2 hour class on the right and proper way to pick up dropped stitches and such.

Yes.  I know.  I have been knitting an awful long time to not know such a thing, and it embarrasses me to say so, but my error correcting has been a bit of bluffing up to this point.

I am not a perfectionist.  Often I will wheedle my way around a mistake, if I think it won’t matter, or show…too much.  I would call myself an B+/A- knitter if perfectionism is an A+ knitter.

So yeah.  I spent 2 hours, but learned some tricks, so I thought it was worth the money.  Timewise, it seemed a lot, but my class mates were less experienced than I, so perhaps they appreciated the time.

Will I be able to drop back 10 rows to correct a cable crossed the wrong way?  Probably not so I would post about it here…

That day I also cast on Annis (mini-version, rav linky) in Textiles A Manos Painted Bangkok (100% silk) to wear with my ‘I birthed the bride’ dress.  I thought it would be the perfect size for the amount of yarn in the skein, but I have cast off, and have way more than I expected left over.  What to do?  The shawl-ette is a shade small, even for an –ette, so I thought I could frog and re-knit a bit bigger.  There are a couple of things that keep me from that, however.  One is the way silk yarn can behave, and that is badly, all grabby and tangly, even if it knits like buttah.  The other is the way shawls can eat yarn, and I may think I am adding just a smidge at the front end, but as the shawl is worked, that ‘just a smidge’ results in using more yarn than I ever dreamt, and than I could possibly have.  And I end up short 12 inches from the end on the cast off row, and also, with stress lines from worrying about it through the last five rows, as I see the yarn disappear into the shawl…

So I think I am about ready to break yarn (yes, it’s true. I haven’t committed even to that at this point.), block it and call it good, leftover yarn be damned. Or just left over...

I have word from the far north that the required yarn is winging it’s way to Colorado that I need to finish up Eldest’s swimsuit cover up for the wedding trip.  That’s a relief!  I was not finding that anywhere else.  Thank Bob for Ravelry and good hearted knitters with big stashes willing to trade their goods.

While knitting on the cover up during my flights to and from Philly, two or three flight attendants commented on my knitting.  That is a new experience for me.  I know others find knitters in interesting and far-flung places, even other Ravelers.  I, alas, have not…until now.  I even spied another knitter while waiting to board the return flight, and had the chance to speak to her, having lost my seat in the gate area when I left to visit the restroom.  However, she was tinking back a her ‘first sock ever’, and we did not speak much beyond that as I did not want to break her concentration.

I am thoughtful that way.

Also incredibly lacking in conversational acumen.

Why I Knit

And also, a (not necessarily totally) gratuitious grandbebe photo...

Here's Ginger...wearing one of the cutie pie undershirts I have knitted out of cotton for her enjoyment and her mother's ease of care.

I am seriously missing those grandbebe girls.

New Things on The Needles of Iron

I am not really sure what has happened.  I was cruising through this year whacking out a bunch o’ little projects (knitting) to keep me focused on Big and Pressing Projects (quilting) when suddenly!  This week!  I find 3 rather complicated projects on the needles.
With a deadline.
#1 came about in the middle of the night.  After waking, but before going back to sleep, I thought of one skein of silk (rav linky) I have that just might match the dress I am thinking to wear to the wedding in June.  In the daylight, it was discovered that the silk yarn does indeed match perfectly, and I think a mini-shawl of silk is just the thing for a beach wedding.  After much searching and contemplating, I think I have settled on a mini-Annis out of this.
#2 So I was emailed Eldest my idea, and while she was flutzing around Rav on my login, she found a swimsuit cover-up, and asked me what I thought, which was not much, as it was a crocheted garment.  Disappointed she was, but she did not have the mad advanced searching skilz that the Mother-Unit has.  It required the purchase of a Vogue mag, but this (rav linky) was decided upon, and I even half most of the yarn required.  The rest was tracked down through another Rav member (I just love poking through other people’s stashes!) and a swap was arranged for some of my hand-dyed handspun.  Suh-weet! So #10 Mesh Cover-Up, out of this.

#3 In contemplating the idea of a swimsuit cover-up, I considered it would be good to have one also, and I like the wrap-the-triangle-around-the-hips action.  I found a pattern for one, but on close inspection, I thought it was lame lame lame!  And then I thought, that is nothing but a shawl!  I have hundreds….nay….THOUSANDS!!! of shawl patterns at my finger tips that are very cool, some even in my queue already.  What I need is a) one that I can wear on the beach like a hippy sarong thing, then wear as a shawl when I go back to my real life without beach butlers, b) a pattern that doesn’t take a lot of concentration because #1 and #2 above are going to take all my concentration, and c) can be made out of my stash.  The Simple, but Effective Shawl, by Laura Chau, out of Maggi’s Linen.  Perfect!
Quilting is continuing.
Spinning is continuing.

Socks are probably going to have to percolate for a bit.

I do recognize my limits…after a fashion….

Trip Knitting

I finished some items while traveling…

Improv Hat, by Melynda Bernardi, (rav link) out of Araucania  Azapa

I adapted this pattern for the inherited big-noggins in this family, and this hat turned out stunningly.  I will be using this pattern again.

Narrow Brim Style Hat, by Bev Galeskas (Felted Knits), (rav link) out of Patons Classic Wool; it will be decorated with felted flowers and leaves., too.

I cast-on ten extra stitches, again, for my families big headedness, then had to shrink the dickens out of this thing to get it even in the ball park of fitting.  So many variables in felting…yarn, color of yarn, felting…But then, I do not think this type of hat is suppose to fit like a ribbed hat, either.  I think it will be all right, or maybe it will be put on a hat stand and used as room décor.  It’s all good, and if I need to, I will knit another.  It is a very easy knit.

Felted Ballerina Slippers, by Bev Galeskas (Felted Knits), (rav link) out of Patons Classic Wool

Of all the needles that I have, I don’t have the ones this pattern calls for, so I improvised.  I did not know if the resulting slippers would fit the intended feet, or if her sister have them to grow into, but I knew I would be knitting another pair anyway.  That's the way it is when one finds a good pattern, and there are a multitude of little ones to knit for!

Well...they fit for now!

And now, besides the quilting (always with the quilting) I am working on ‘A Pretty Thing’ cowl, by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, out of Aarlen Cashmere, leftover from my Peasy sweater.  It's for me...I think...