Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Socks and Kitchener Stitch help

As far as I could tell, this is excellent for sock knitting, especially for help with the Kitchener Stitch!

http://www.knittersreview.com/article_how_to.asp?article=/review/profile/070719_a.asp

...to make the folks right home.



(Dad, you could be a little happier than that...)

I am now finally able to post this picture taken over Christmas of Mom's sensational striped socks that she threatened to give Dad but I've ended up with the pair he's wearing.

Dad is illustrating the geriatic fashion of the day. He's not allowed to do it (and he's not that old) but there are many unmonitored 70+ -somethings walking around like this usually with shorts and black socks as their statement of choice. Some call it senility, I call it their way of thumbing their nose to us younger, more hip, fashion conscious beings. It's the EMO and goth of the senior generation. Nice to know that some things never change.

Heart-Shaped World


Saturday went to the theme of Picture #1. I was so excited I had finished projects I started another: all on my own pattern, no guide. I had been wanting to practice knitting/purling so that a shape is formed in the article and what better way than a dishcloth? I've been needing new dishcloths/towels and I've been very disappointed in my storebought ones. I just can't find better ones than what I knit out of cotton yarn. They are absorbant, scrub wonderfully, and are so cute! They also don't fray after 6 months. :( The others discloths I knitted were more on the theme of functionality (and practicing knitting on a bias; thanks for that pattern, Snakewoman!) so they aren't as exciting to look at as this one. This one was for the Valentine-y feeling that still lingers around our house (it's SuperGirl's new favorite holiday) and I have written the pattern down along with lots of notes on what to do better next time. I love it when I have time to do that and the project is not something for someone else!

Picture #2 was Sunday's theme when I showed the heart dishcloth to SuperGirl and she said "Oh Mommy, I just wanted the heart. Cut all that other stuff off." I explained to her that the "other stuff" couldn't be cut off because the rectangle shape actually served a purpose and that isn't advisable with knitting anyway (unless you read about Fair Isle patterns) but that got me thinking: could I knit a heart? I've been knitting lots of things, why not hearts? So I sat down and started knitting, writing down what I did as I went. The boys (Hubby's brother-in-law and my younger brother) were over playing a board game and while I played the 4th person (not a strategic threat but still vital because providing additional action to the game... and taking up space to work around) and knitted at the same time. SuperGirl "borrowed" the dishcloth to keep her dolls warm while I worked on the "Heart Only" blanket (apparently SuperGirl's dolls really needed a heart-shaped blanket, too) and I finished about the time the game finished. SuperGirl was thrilled and all dolls are warmer for the effort.

I've been working more on the funky sweater. It's now to the point that I've joined the front to the back under the armpits and am working in the round. I've also been crocheting that hat for the Class Aide and it's taking FOREVER. I've decided I'm out of practice in crochet and am not sure if I like knitting better or just prefer it for certain things.

(note the quality of the pictures up top! I have gotten the digital camera on-line and can now use it! Yay!)

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Good-bye, Norma Jean


Picture #2 are Marilyn's socks. I did finish them Friday but she won't be able to come get the until Monday. I can't wait for her to see them. Everyone has loved watching them grow, just like I'm loving watching SuperGirl (my lovely model) grow.

Picture #1 is what I knitted last night using Debbie Bliss Cashmerino SuperChunky yarn (can we sing like angels here? Heavenly!). It's called "The Button Hat" and has been all the rage at the knitting shop for new knitter classes. I love mine even though it might never get cold enough here to wear it for the next 8 months.

Last night was the last sock knitting class and I'm really happy with them. 2 of them pretty much had their socks finished with only slight gauge and laddering problems. The other finished one and is nearly finished with her other, only she was visiting and planning new projects too much (AND trying to figure out continental knitting while she was knitting English in which I finally had to put my foot down and redirect her back to turning her heel). I'm glad this group of classes is over, though. I'm tired, am sock-ed out, still am having the monthly hormonal emotional issues, and knitting classes on Friday night are not for me.

My personal lesson I learned for Beginner Sock Class #2 is I need to add an optional CO for plus-size women. Did not occur to me totally.

My other things I figured out (one with help from my former college professor) is I only need 3 classes for this and I found really good instructions for the Kitchener Stitch that I am going to add to the pattern I give to them. I'll post the link to that once I find it. It's really good.

I also was recruited (and I could have said no but I didn't because I need to work my store credit back up) to teach the Newsboy hat in another knitting class. Only this one will be 2 classes and on Saturday mornings. I wore it to the class last night and everyone there got really excited about it.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Quick update



(I don't think I have any control over the order these pictures show up in; if I do, let me know.)

Picture 3 is the hand drawn plan for Picture 1 which is the Funky Sweater so far. You'll understand why I call it funky because the colors indicated for the different parts in Picture 3 are all really bold. It's going to be fun. I did take a picture of the pattern picture but that turned out blurry so I'm going to take another and post it soon.

Picture 2 is Marilyn's sock as of 2 days ago. I corrected my gauge issues (I was getting tighter simply to prevent laddering at the double-point breaks so I had to start only tightening the stitch after I switch needles and knit normal the rest of the needle) and as of an hour ago I have started the heel and WILL MAKE THE SELF-MADE FRIDAY DEADLINE!!! I even told Marilyn today and she is excited. I'll have a new picture of the socks up also. I'll even have SuperGirl model them when I finish (she loves that!).

I've just put in a store-order at the knit shop for this fabulous book of patterns. There are 2 different books and I'm going to choose which one I want. Hopefully it's not both because they are on the expensive side. Get this, they are patterns for scarves and the scarves are different animals, shapes, themes, etc. There is worm w/ apples, sheep, fox, alligator, school bus, caterpillar, and tons more (I think there's even a flamingo) in adult and some in that and kid sizes. My mind was spinning, especially thinking of the teacher gifts that will be coming up in the years ahead, plus I just LOVE the caterpillar, fax, and sheep. This is a book that would be passed around to all, I know!

By the way, Little Momma, I'm not knitting the Adapted Big Bad Baby Blanket for you. I got a better idea and it's all new. Be surprised.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Extra, extra...


Here is SuperGirl modeling the gray version of the Newsboy cap. I finished it yesterday right before going to work out. Now for the scarf...

This hat turned out better than the other in that I figured out what they did not write for the decreasing on the top. I'm making an ecru hat (to go with her purple one: one for crazy days and one for tame days) for SuperGirl's school aide out of cotton yarn and I'm glad this time I'll get it right. It's funny how patterns can be. It's also funny how NOT stessed I get when I read patterns now. My new dilemma is Marilyn's socks. I've gotten about 2 inches into the second one and my stitch has gotten tighter. I think it's due to the cables in this hat and worked with worsted on #6 16" needles; my wrists would cramp a little. I tried working on Marilyn's sock but had to switch to the sweater I started just to relax my hands a little. Marilyn's socks HAVE to be finished by Friday so that is ALL I am letting myself work on. I have the sweater (which I will get a picture and post), cotton dishcloths, purple button hat (all this for me; how is it I'm suddenly making so much for me?), scarf to plan, and toe-up socks to figure out/work on. I think I have enough to do. Ph-i-l said I can make him some socks once I make me some and then there's the ecru hat for the aide. I asked her if she wanted the same and she said she loves that style. Maybe keep the bill and make the top a little different? Hmmm...

Little Momma, thank you so much for that worsted yarn. Those colors are great and I know they will be used. I wove in the ends of your gloves last night (the alpaca was heavenly!) and I'll work on the cupcakes a little at a time until I come visit. See you soon!

Saturday, February 14, 2009

This is Night Hawk...

The blue yarn is now untangled and balled up nicely in my cotton yarn basket. I organized my yarn stash and cleaned out my mending basket so now I have a cotton yarn basket. Any future mending is going to sit on my nightstand and not in a basket so that I hopefully get to mending it sooner than a season later. There was a sundress of SuperGirl's in there I hope she can still wear...

Anyway, I started on my newsboy hat (coming along nicely), finished Marilyn's 1st sock (turned out really nice), started Marilyn's spousal sock (again, coming along nicely), decided not to do "Guinevere's Gauntlets" (just weren't singing to me like I thought they would so maybe some other time; plus, they looked a little too frilly for me and I think the yarn I got for it would make a wonderful lacey scarf, maybe knitted late in the summer in anticipation of cooler weather...), and discussed the baby blanket for the future sprog of Sock Sis/Little Mama. Yes, that was an intentional "Home Movies" reference. She has requested the revised version of Stitch and Bitch's "Big Bad Baby Blanket" (I do it with smaller blocks (4x5) and similar deminsions (sp?) except made more rectangular than square) in primary colors. Oh, Little Mama, the possibilities. I'm actually thinking of a possible blocks-in-different-colors thing, depending on how exciting I want to be and how much I want to try out my intarsia skills.

Hmmm...

Mom and Dad are visiting Little Mama right now and I hope the yarn shops are still intact and hawking their wares. If not, you better share, you two. And Snakewoman will probably want in on the action.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Snake Eyes

Oh, and I almost forgot! Happy 1st Anniversary to the wonderful duo! I thought I felt like there needed to be a N.C. trip coming on... No, that was last year! Miss the dairy and have a scoop or to for us to celebrate!

:)

Tangled up in blue

Really, I am. The yarn shop lady gave me a skein and a half of lovely blue cotton yarn that was hopelessly tangled and said I could have it. So I'm untangling it. Untangling yarn, jewelry, etc. is actually fun to me (and yes, I'm still somewhat sane last time I checked) but this could have been more fun if I wasn't feeling odd. I don't go for the Friday 13th superstition, it's more the gray skies, laxiety at work, and for some reason Little Guy has taken to yelling at me. That does not make me happy. He's yelling because SuperGirl now has a plethoria of Valentine's Day candy and he wants it all.

Sigh.

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone. Happy Birthday to Ph-i-l. Have a great weekend!

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

"Street-Tough Gloves"


...and here they are. They did soften up nicely in the dryer. I look forward to it being cold enough to wear them.

(by the way, anyone who likes Wes Anderson movies, "Harold and Maude" is a must see!)

Nothing seems to fit

Hubby walked outside to go to work and said "There's a tree down." Thank heavens it wasn't on our property but it was across the street in the driveway where the thugs used to be squatting. They are now gone and a lovely family has moved in with 2 dogs that talk to us every time we walk across the street and a huge white exotic bird that sits in the front window, fascinated by the passers-by (i.e. mainly us). Ph-i-l got out there with the husband with his saw and clippers and I helped the wife by getting the smaller stuff and we got it cleared fairly quickly.

The wristlets were finished last night and I am washing them. They ended up a tad small for me but I think the washing and drying will relax the acrylic enough it won't be an irritation. Did you know acrylic "relaxes"? I didn't. I read it somewhere where someone was writing about it. They said never to dry acrylic in the dryer because it loses it's structure. I love drying acrylic in the dryer because that's when it gets soft and pliant enough, especially for baby blankets.

Anyway, once I wash them I'll get a picture posted. My goal for today is work on Marilyn's socks...

Monday, February 9, 2009

If you want to be you, be you...

The class turned out rather nice and low-key. There were only 3 of the 6 expected, one being my Elementary Education Math professor from college. She told me she expected me to call her by her first name, no college formalities, and I said I'd try. I did pretty well and I was proud of myself. It was really funny when she was asking a question about the 2x2 ribbing and I said "So what comes next in your pattern? You know, like you taught me." We all had a good laugh.

They are all fairly experienced knitters who have also knit in the round before. Them getting used to the double points is the biggest obstacle. I'm excited to see how they do. I try to be more of a guide than a teacher because with socks most everyone knows the stitches, just not the way they are put together. I told them to feel free to work ahead; it was not going to hurt my feelings. I love it when people come to the 3rd class wearing their socks instead holding themselves back and staying right with the planned steps. Of course it always depends on what that person needs and wants to get out of the class but there is always something fun and empowering about learning a skill and then taking off with it, suddenly making it your own and thinking outside the box.

This week my knitting is for Marilyn's socks, partially for an example in the sock class but also so I will finish them. I think I'm going to take a break from socks after this pair. This weekend I worked on some "wristlets," or, as Hubby calls them, my "street-tough gloves." They look similar to the gloves you see poor people wearing in the movies with the fingers cut off, only these only have holes for the thumbs; there is no sectioning for the fingers. They are a smokey gray color, Bernat acrylic afghan yarn (the same kind of yarn I did the newsboy cap out of but not the same color), and have a really cute yarn-over w/ garter stitch detail. I needed some of these because I don't like my fingers being covered but I needed something to protect my hands and keep them warm from the cold. I finished the right wristlet and am now working on the left. I omitted the thumb finishing step it called for because it was being too small a glove already and the thumb finishing called for 12 picked up stitches around the little thumb opening, making everything, including the knitting itself, too uncomfortable to knit. My hands are pretty thin already so when these ended up a little tight, I knew I needed to adjust the pattern, especially if I plan on making them again for a normal person. In fact I've already made the notes what to do differently.

Hubby convinced me to make myself a newsboy cap out of that yarn also, so I'm going to work on another one of those (it was a fun pattern!) and I'm thinking of developing a matching scarf that would combine the cables with the yo/garter detailing from the wristlets and tie all three things together. I could use some accesories that match. I don't have anything that matches or even looks like it SHOULD match. Also, I read on yarnharlot.com the Yarn Harlot's daughter commented that you can always tell the knitters because they're always wearing a hodge-podge of knitted things, none of which match, and if her mother was to knit her something it needed to look like it matches, i.e. could have been store-bought. Well, when I read that my first thought was "what's the fun in that?" and went grocery shopping in my scrap-yarn, wildly colored Granny-square scarf complete with red and white twisted fringe trim (that reminds me, I was going to develop a red and white peppermint candy scarf in honor of Jack and Meg of White Striped fame... must remember!) and Official Kitty-ville hat Sock Sis knitted in lovely varigated peacock-blue, chocolate brown, and cream (complete with little ears), and my black knitted sweater (bought, not hand-knitted, alas). But I got to thinking. Even though when it is just me going wherever and I can wear whatever I want, whatever color I want and no one in my family cares, what about when I am supposed to look like something other than a happy-rainbow mommy with a rainbow-knitting fetish? It might be a good idea to have this as an option to wear all at once or mixed with the Granny-square scarf, or mixed with the Kitty-ville hat, or the leopard-print fleece cape (definitely not knitted but still fun to wear and twirl around!) or... well, you know. Be whatever you want to be. Plus, it would be great projects to justify buying this lovely gray yarn. Little Bro turned it down in an afghan; I didn't think he'd want one anyway but I had offered just the same. Gave me the excuse I needed to buy it at the time.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

I've spent some time getting ready for the next beginner sock class. I heard it filled up quick and I'm not sure if I'm excited or not. I'm excited that people are excited but the only night they could have it was Friday night. I like my Friday nights to myself but we'll see how this goes. I've updated and revised the pattern so that it is a little clearer, made little notes about what they should be seeing, and have Marilyn's socks ready to bring so they can see what they are working towards. Just let me know if anyone wants a copy of the pattern and I can post it or email it to you. It's really easy and easy to adapt to whatever other leg/heel/foot pattern you want.

I think I'm a little sock-ed out at the moment. I'm really wanting to work on my sweater and start some fingerless gloves (my hands are so chapped they are starting to snag on fabric). I even worked on my sweater a little last night. This is character building, though. I need to finish what I start, especially since they are a gift, and work through my immature grumblings. We teach kids to do it, adults can do it too.

It'll be interesting to see what personalities are in this sock class. There are 6 of them, one being more experienced than the rest.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

If you'd be my bodyguard...


It's been a Paul Simon day full of work and the lovely little boy you see at the top. I couldn't resist that picture. He loves helping! He also helped me deliver the hat to the girl and she was thrilled with it. It's still cold here at times and she was happy that it would be warmer than the one she lost.

The other picture is the one I tried to post about a week ago and for some reason it "exceeded messaging limit." Now, for some reason, it doesn't, so here it is: the yarn for the wonderfully funky sweater I had started and will be working on once I get the 1st sock finished for Marilyn. (I told myself that if I can make a hat for someone in a few days after offering I can get the socks for someone else finished a few weeks after offering.) As you can see the yarn is all the same kind, just different colors. It is cashmere/merino and I got it close-out price at Tuesday Morning without having any idea what I was going to use it for. The sweater (so far) has been heavenly to knit and is turning out really cute. I decided to make the medium and I hope that won't be too big. I don't think it will be. I wear small a lot but for some reason that size seemed a little risky on this project. In taking the measurements of myself and comparing it to the pattern (also keeping in mind my gauge and awareness of knitting is tons better now than 6 months ago with Sweater #1) I realized that if the small fit there was a great chance that it would be skin tight and I would have no one smaller than me to give it to if that was the case. At least if the medium is a little roomy I can still wear it. Plus the bones of this sweater gives the wearer more freedom to be the size she wants rather than... well, Sweater #1. That one, ha, not only was it too big but it had a scoop neckline and broad shoulders without much structure so if you were the slightest bit smaller in any way (breast, shoulder, anything) it would fall off of you because of the HUGE neckline. LOLA has it, loves it, and looks great in it.

Peanuuuut, peanut butter.. (and jelly!)

We, as a family, have embarked on new lengths for our personal health: gone is store-bought bread and peanut butter. I'm now making it myself. It's incredibly easy. For peanut butter you put the peanuts (dry roasted, no added anything) in the food processor and grind until it's as smooth or chunky as you want it. Smoother takes longer, chunky not so much. Dribble some honey in the mix for however degree of sweetness and some canola oil if you want it smoother and that's it. You can add salt and mix right at the end but we like it without. For the bread I just do a basic whole wheat recipe for a 1.5 lb. loaf in the bread machine. It's whole wheat flour, sugar, salt, water, and yeast. If you want herbs, add herbs before the yeast. That's it. It's extra time to prepare and extra dishes to wash but it's not crazytown-like and the prices of store-bought bread are making my eyebrows raise ($3-$5 for the true good-for-you whole grain) and it just feels good. I'll willingly eat this bread and I figured I'll have to make a loaf every 2 days during the week for Hubby and SuperGirl's lunches.

Now if I could just find a way around the nitrate-injected, sodium-rich lunch meat. Any ideas apart from me having to bake 2 chickens every week? The Biggest Loser cookbook suggested getting a meat slicer and scale to weigh everything but when I mentioned that to Hubby he gave me a funny look. I don't think I'd want to own a meat slicer with a 19 month old and 4.5 year old anyway...

The rasta/newsboy hat is nearly finished. I finished the brim and all I have to do now is cut out the template in the plastic mesh and sew it up in the brim. SuperGirl is so excited about the hat. She can't wait to give it.

I did find some things about that pattern that needed further explaining (which I penciled in just in case I decide to revisit the pattern) and I have a re-occurring question about my personal knitting: ssk. Is it supposed to look THAT different from K2tog? I get a little line crossing in my ssk when in k2tog it tucks in nicely. Again, any thoughts? I thought I was doing it right but possibly not. It's consistent so I'm not going to redo anything but it's something I would like to correct if there was a pattern that called for things to look more superficially symmetrical.

The hat looks cooler with each finishing touch. And the cool thing is (especially for those of you with big hair issues, SuperKaren!) this hat can be made for dreds, big hair, or just extra floppy-ness simply by adding more cable repeats. It was a pattern to fit the varying degree of expression. Cool beans! :)

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Gotta have that funk


I have had the best time with this. This is officially my first project using for real cables and I can't believe how funkadelically gorgeous it has turned out. I got to turn on Parliment for this one. And the fact that it's for a sweet, three-kid mom makes me love it even more. All I have left to knit is the rest of the bill that folds up so a piece of plastic mesh can fit inside; what you're seeing is what will be on the inside of the bill. The right side is stockinette. (this is the newsboy hat from Stitch 'n Bitch Nation done in a Bernat worsted afghan yarn in varigated colors.)

The girl it's for is about my age, has three kids that have all gone through SuperGirl's preschool program, and is an aide for the preschool. She's beautiful, blonde, thin, graceful, impeccable dresser, and the sweetest thing to everyone. SuperGirl adores her and I've gotten to know her through the different things at the school. One morning she was wearing a crocheted hat in a similar style to this (no cables though) while working carpool and I commented on it. She said she bought it at Target and absolutely loved it, it was so warm. A week later she saw me in carpool again and lamented the fact that she had lost it. Later that day I got the inspiration and offered to knit her a new one and asked what color she wanted. She named off lots of colors (my kind of girl!) but purple, blue, and green seemed most prominent. I asked SuperGirl what color she wanted and she said purple. She went with me to the store to find the yarn. That was exciting because she was picking out the hottest, brightest, pinkest purples EVER and I had to explain the art of finding colors the person receiving the project would want, not the colors the person making the project wants. SuperGirl seemed to understand but she still pointed out all the brightest, hottest colors.

I should finish it tomorrow and get back to Marilyn's socks and my sweater. Hubby now thinks I need a hat like this; it would be cute. I don't know. He even recommended red. He never says red. Hmmm...