This, That and Everything in Between
It’s time to do some catch up blogging. Things have been super busy lately, and that’s not going to change any time soon. So let’s get started.
My friend Amy and I are both starting Grumperina’s Picovoli’s together. Her yarn is pink in the new Valley Yarns Longmeadow and mine will be the purple Joy in Rowan Calmer.
We both struggled with the provisional cast on and the row being twisted when joining in the round. After getting the provisional cast on done correctly, I got 22 rows into mine and realized that the picot edge was really going to flare out. After ripping it all out, I did the inside edge on the picot trim two needle sizes smaller, hopefully reducing the tendency to flare out. Here’s my latest try:
I knitted a set of potholders for my sister-in-law and brother, a very belated Christmas gift. I had a bit of a problem deciding what kind of edge to use. At first I did a crochet edge (top of pict) which seemed really stiff. I was concerned that after felting the edge wouldn’t be flat, but all ruffly. So the next two potholders I used a knit edge (bottom of pict). This edge seemed much more consistent with the rest of the fabric.
I felted them yesterday at Amy’s and they’re drying right now. The crochet edge did indeed felt in a unpleasant funky way. So that makes two potholders as gifts and one in the bin of NEVER DO THIS AGAIN. And yes once again I forgot to take pre-felting measurements so I could figure out the percentage of shrinkage.
My scarf arrived from my secret International Scarf Exchange pal.
Her name is Marion Frazer from Tennessee. Marion met a German designer, Monika Haas, at Stitches East and the pattern is Monika’s design. Monika also made the yarn which is created by individual threads added together starting with the light colors and gradually going to the darker colors. Thanks so much Marion; it’s all quite beautiful.
Last week Ella came home and declared that I needed to make her a wood sprite costume for her Girl Scout play that was happening in two days. This is what I whipped up in less than an hour since that’s all the time I was willing to put into a spur-of-the-moment request. I can’t believe how much sewing I’ve been doing.
I couldn’t resist this new Lexie Barnes knitting bag. But between the Pink Picot Hat and these pink flowers, am I turning into a girly girl? I didn’t even think I liked pink, at least not since I was 14 wearing a pink suit while my brothers sported the Miami Vice look. But when I showed the bag to Liam yesterday and asked him what he thought of it, he said, “It’s handsome. The flowers are handsome. (pauses and strokes the flowers.) I lub you Mom.” Well if it’s a handsome bag, it can’t be too girly girl, right?
And the real reason that I justified buying this bag now was because I have a new part-time job at Webs! You know that I’m excited about this. I start next Thursday and I’m going to try my hardest not to spend it all on yarn. But how could I resist one celebratory knitting bag?
Finished Project: Pink Picot Hat
Project Specs:
Pattern: Hats That Fit by Nancy Lindberg
Yarn: Malabrigo in Dusty Pink
Needles: two sets of US 9 Addi Turbo circulars, and US 9 bamboo double points only for the i-cord loop
Size: made to fit my tiny head
I made this hat to opt out of the Knitting II class at Webs for the Expert Knitter’s Certification program. I tried out my first picot edge for the cuff and discovered how easy a picot edge is. The diameter of the hat is just right, but I think it’s a little long. So I’ve been wearing it with the picot edge turned up which is kind of cute. If it gets cold, I just turn down the hem. I’m thinking about ripping it out and making it a bit shorter. We’ll see. It wouldn’t be torture to have knit with this yarn again. It’s so soft. I would love to make a sweater out of it.
Mates of State
OK, this post is mostly for Cirilia who I know will appreciate it. But check out the new song Fraud In The 80′s by one of the cutest bands ever, Mates of State.
Attached I-Cord
Here’s a thought. Remember my Soleil Tank Top and the problems I was having with the hem rolling up? I never did find anything to make it better. But what about knitting an attached i-cord to the hem? Do you think that would make the hem stay flat? Maybe I’ll give it a try. If this doesn’t work, rip rip rip.
You’ve been warned, no knitting news
OK, so I’m putting off doing auction work. But don’t you want to see my 5 favorite photos that I took last year? None of them are knitting related.
Ella getting ready for school
I love the muddy speckled Liam.
Ella loved, loved, loved the waves.
This picture totally tells the story of getting ready for the first day of school.
How can you not love this weird Halloween picture?
Knitalong News
I would love to join Stephanie’s Knitting Olympics, but I’ve taken on the already Olympic task of co-chairing my son’s school’s spring auction this year and it’s completely taken over my knitting time. I know I’ll be watching as much of the Olympics that I can, and I love a challenge, but with all of the auction work, I can’t commit to finishing any more knitting right now. So Eddie Along is the perfect one for me. I can still challenge myself but without the added pressure of failure. I think my challenge will be to attempt to knit socks again from the fingering weight yarn I gave up on using the magic loop method.
In other knitalong news, Sockapaloooza is coming up and I’m trying to decide if I’m in or out this time? Hmm, decisions, decisions.
My brother-in-law discovered this amusing site of found grocery lists. Check it out.
International Scarf Exchange
With all of that holiday knitting finished I was finally able to start my International Scarf Exchange scarf this month. I’m using the Midwest Moonlight pattern from Scarf Style with Elsebeth Lavold’s Silky Wool in a lovely deep purple.
Paranoid that I wouldn’t finish the scarf by the deadline, I made a row-by-row chart marking which row I needed to be on by which days. Thankfully I’ve been able to keep up and I’m nearly 2/3 done now. There’s been very little unknitting with this lace scarf, but I do have to concentrate while working on it. I’m enjoying the yarn quite a bit. It’s got a nice drape and texture. I may need to consider using this yarn in future projects.
Top 5 2005 Knitting Projects
Finally, here is the list of my five favorite knitting projects from 2005. (in order of completion)
The Little Purple Purse: I use this purse all of the time and it’s held up really well. And all of those little mistakes, I’ve grown to not notice them, or at least not care about them.
Nothing But a T-Shirt: I’ve been missing wearing this sweater all winter. And with these near 0° temps lately, I won’t be wearing this T any time soon. But come May, it’ll be back in heavy rotation. And I’m really excited to check out the new Valley Yarns Longmeadow. It’s supposed to be very close to Rowan’s Calmer, but at a price of $3.49 a ball, it may have Calmer beat.
I-Cord Gloves: I’ve been wearing these gloves a lot too. Some of the ends are starting to poke out of the right side so I need to tidy them up. But otherwise, they’ve made my hands warm and happy. And I’ve learned to focus on my driving now, not the gloves.
Big Blue House Socks: These are really simple socks, but I can’t wait to have a pair of my own. I’m still feeling satisfied at mastering short rows.
The Dinosaur Sweater: This sweater keeps growing on me. And every time I see it on Liam, I smile.
It’s been a great first year of knitting. I can’t wait to see what I create this year. Knitting makes me happy.
Satisfied Recipients
Here are the House Socks on my father-in-law. He says, “They fit great, they look good, and I love them.” He also went on to say, “The fit would be just a little loose for a regular sock, but it is just right for a house sock. I particularly like them for reading and for sitting at the computer.” After I mailed the socks away, I quickly missed them. No problem. I picked up a bunch more of the Jaeger Chamonix and some Berroco Pleasure and I’ll be making my whole family (including myself) some House Socks.
And check out Liam in his new Dinosaur Sweater. He’s stopped complaining that it itches and he’s been wearing it happily.
My sister-in-law says she loves her Neck Gaiter. She says it is really soft and looks nice with her coat. My brother also really loves his hat. He says, “It’s super warm and I love the soft lining inside.” He is planning on wearing it ice fishing.
And my mom said she’s going to be the envy of all the other Red Hat Society Members when she wears her new socks.
I said I’m not going to make so many knitted gifts again. But with feedback like this, it’ll be hard to resist making more.
Like I Need Another Bag
My husband is continually amused that I’m constantly in search of another bag. And of course my recent knitting obsession has only fueled it. But look at the bags at Offhand Designs. Now I’ll be dreaming of the Weekender knitting bag available in all of those wonderful fabrics. But I’ll only be dreaming and not purchasing since this bag definitely doesn’t fall into my budget.
