Knitting Increases

Proof my mother loves me

2009-09-07T17:41:00.002-05:00

Not that I needed any, but this sure was a nice surprise:

Mom and Dad brought it home from a recent trip back home. This stuff is the essence of summer vacation. Ah the memories...
What a treat; thanks, Mom!

1 ball, 2 strikes

2009-07-06T20:31:00.001-05:00

So I mentioned the other day that I started a sweater. I'm working on Lift and Separate from the original Big Girl Knits. I'm using some Debbie Bliss merino dk in color 225202. I originally picked this up for a completely different pattern that I have a memory of working on in the summer of 2006. I got all the way to starting on the second ball and then let it sit. Strike 1. I was looking a pattern that would be suitable for my newly handspun yarn when I saw that sweater and decided that I already had the perfect yarn for it. I dutifully knitted not 1, not 2, but 3 gauge swatches on 2 different sets of needles. Strike 2. Anyway, this time, I think I'm safely on base.

The color really is a dark turquoise or teal (depending on your preference), not the royal that it appears. In fact, the wine bottle in the background is royal and that picture showed the best contrast I could get.

The wine bottle is a bit of a souvenir from Pam's trip out here and is currently doing double duty:

How we make a birthday cake

2009-07-04T09:00:00.000-05:00

First we mix up the batter and get it into the pans and bake.

Shave the rounded top off the cake and feed it to your nearest school-age buddy.

Toss the cake on the cake plate, fill, and assemble.

Fill it with what? Dixie's, of course!

Then frost the whole thing...with this?

Nah, save that for the pretzels; bring out some more Dixie's and frost away!

Then find that kid and put 'em to work.

Happy Birthday, America!

Her name is Henrietta...

2009-07-03T17:02:00.000-05:00

...but I call her Hank. :)

The kid and I whacked her against the table several times and now she looks rather softer and more like real yarn! Since I'm not obsessed or anything, I have now joined DragonFibers' Fall Fiber Club. You know, just to justify the spindle and the knoddy.

I also finished these:

and this:

revealing an apparent fondness for blue and green. So everyone act surprised when I reveal that the sweater I started is...teal.

Another new way to spend time with the kid

2009-06-20T17:18:00.000-05:00

I mentioned in my last post that last weekend was spent at the Iowa Sheep and Wool Festival with some friends. Well, the kiddo went with me also. He thoroughly enjoyed meeting the sheep and alpacas as well as trying something new...felting:

So Pam and I ran by Hobby Lobby and picked up some supplies. Yesterday, while the kid and I were waiting for the handspun to dry so we could whack it around a little, we tried it out.

It was fun and certainly easy. I think the element of danger (that needle is barbed to actually felt the fiber) appeals to the kid. Here's what we wound up with:

What a difference a week makes

2009-06-20T15:29:00.000-05:00

Last week at this time, I was not a spinner. Didn't own a spindle. Didn't even think I wanted to. Then Pam came to town. We went to the Iowa Sheep and Wool Festival. We met FuzzySheepCrafts there.

And, I swear this is the truth, the pair of them ganged up on me and forced me to purchase some roving and a drop spindle. Pam shoved me to the ground and held me while CBear forcibly removed my wallet from my bag and paid for it all. Anyway it went something like that.*
So once we were back home and the kid was in bed, Pam propped my eyes open with toothpicks and forced a lesson upon me. I mean, 11 o'clock at night...who does this??? I'm pretty sure she infused the fiber with some sort of drug because I was laughing myself silly and became addicted to the rhythm of the spinning. For days afterward I found myself saying things like "It's been 5 hours since I've spun anything," and having a dream about plying wool with a strand of oh-so-fine cotton. I have no idea how to ply!

Since I got started, I figured I might as well keep going, and by last night I had spun the whole ball of roving!

Then I remembered Pam telling me something about setting the twist in the middle of the night. After some IMs and Google searches and a trip to Lowes, I made this:

And wrapped for a while...

Hey look! Yarn! And I'm a spinner...

...with an empty spindle....

*Okay, it may have been more like Pam was admiring some other roving when I said, "Ooh, that's pretty." And then the vendor mentioned that what I was admiring would be a very good roving to learn on. And then I reached for my own wallet. Everything gets a little fuzzy at a fiber festival. Hee.

"Mom, do I have an all gray shirt?"

2008-11-09T14:31:00.000-06:00

"I think so."
"And all gray pants too?"
"Yeah, I actually bought a gray sweatshirt and gray sweatpants that you haven't worn yet. Why?"
"So I can be the all gray Iron Man."
Naturally.

Thanks for Best Friends

2008-11-08T08:33:00.000-06:00

When I got the news of my cousin Mark's on-duty death, I immediately called two of my oldest friends who were also close to his younger sister in school. When I decided to make the trip for his funeral (an 18-20 hour one-way trip), there were, of course, several details that needed working out. Some of those were already handled. Pam had already offered a place to stay. Donna offered a place to crash on the way. One more call to Paula, my oldest friend in Nebraska, and the pets and the house were handled.
None of these a big deal, right? But imagine not having this network of deep friendships that you just know you can count on. I could have boarded the dog and reserved hotel rooms, but the fluidity of our constantly changing plans would have either meant cancellations or additional charges for last minute glitches. No kennel is as welcoming as a house with two kids and a mom who love animals. No restaurant is as restorative as a home-cooked hot sausage sandwich with room for the kid to actually run around with a couple other boys. No hotel is as comforting as a home with a hug waiting, a comfortable bed that you actually KNOW is clean, and a Wii to distract the kid (okay, and the adults) while you prepare for another impossible day.
The depth of these friendships provides that one bella was watching my Facebook status updates as we crossed the country and called to tell us lunch would be ready when we got there. It means that when plans changed (again!) while we were there that another amiga didn't seem to notice that a weekend with our dog turned into a week. It allows for estimated comings and goings to be off by hours and then worked seamlessly into the routine by a third cherie.
I am humbled by the by the knowledge that these ladies look at their contribution last month as hardly worth mentioning, a matter of course. I am awestruck that I have even more friends like this who just happened not to be on the route this time who would have done any little or big thing needed.
Donna, Pam, Paula: I love you and I cherish you more than I have the ability to say.

Another year, another butterfly

2008-09-02T19:34:00.000-05:00

We went to this event again this year (over a month ago now.) I really do enjoy the butterfly release. The grotto is a really beautiful, peaceful place to have this event, and it gives me a chance to reflect on the time that Alex was with us as well as whether I am living in a way that honors his memory.

What we did last evening

2007-08-02T21:20:00.000-05:00

Butterfly Release

Knitting Increased, Blogging Ceased

2007-04-07T11:13:00.000-05:00

And while knitting right along, there have been lots of changes in life.

Last November, I was struck speechless by a special effort made by a lifelong friend. I was absolutely not sure how to respond to this gesture. So, I knit some hats.

I completely support this project as Children's Hospital was absolutely as wonderful to us while we were there as they could have been. I have kept this blog separate from my other one, but I am adding the Hats for Alex button to affirm my complete support.

In December, a huge personal burden was lifted. The situation still has some loose ends, but at least we can feel like looking at the future instead of walking with our eyes in the rearview mirror all the time. We thank God for our family and friends who have been supportive of us in some of the most phenomenal ways.

In January I was offered a job with a new company and did the soul searching necessary to determine if I was ready to leave a company I had been with for over 10 years. I was.

In February I started my new job. I could not be more thrilled to be working where I am now. The project is thoroughly interesting, with just the right level of challenge to stretch me and tap into all the varied skills I've picked up over my career so far. Turns out, I retained more than I thought. (And had to look up a few things I never thought I'd forget!) And, it seems, every week there's further confirmation in one way or another that I made the right decision.

March saw things begin to settle down. Our family really needed this as we work on getting our budding paleo-artist ready for Kindergarten(!) at a brand new (they're still building it) elementary school named for one of my favorite people. Appears the whole thing hinges on my ability to locate an officially sealed copy of his birth certificate.

All the while, I've been clicking the needles to some degree or another. Here are just a few things I've managed to complete over the past few months:

Hubby and I got hats from the same pattern and Patons SWS in different colors...

(I got Knitpicks Options needles for Christmas!)

My SIL had a baby girl, so there were a card and presents...

(I also got a Cricut for Christmas!)

I tried the "other" heel...forget what it's called...but it added just the right amount of dainty to plain socks in plain yellow yarn.

And I picked up some of what's left of Knitpicks Dancing (they're down to only 2 colors and it's on clearance) and made myself some socks. These were made from Rumba and I can't say that I followed a pattern. Just used the general idea from some pretty generic sock patterns I've used and kept the ribbing going down across the top of the socks so they fit in a cozy way. The yarn lost some color after the first wash, but they are now a nice muted version and I like them lots. I only wear them with the shortest possible pants I can find. (No comments about how hard that might be!) Here they are:

There are others, but I don't think I have them photographed yet. More soon! (Well, sooner than it took to get this one, anyway!)

100%

2007-01-12T20:18:00.000-06:00

You are 100% Pittsburgh.

Great job! There's nooooo doubt about it. You're from Da Burgh. You deserve a reward, so go have an Ahrn City or two. And GO STILLERS!

How Pittsburgh Are You
See All Our Quizzes

There are just some things you don't unlearn.

I should have known!

2006-07-31T19:40:00.000-05:00

I'm a Porsche 911!

You have a classic style, but you're up-to-date with the latest technology. You're ambitious, competitive, and you love to win. Performance, precision, and prestige - you're one of the elite,and you know it.

Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

Happy Independence Day! God bless our troops!

2006-07-04T10:35:00.000-05:00

I love making socks!

2006-07-02T15:37:00.000-05:00

Not to beat a dead horse here, but I just really like the whole process of making socks! OK, that's not true. I don't like picking up stiches really, but I like doing it more for socks than for, say, collars.

So, here's what' on the needles now:

Princess Taylor is turning 1 year old this week, and these are her socks.

I'm really enjoying working from Betsy McCarthy's Knit Socks! I had a mental block with Kitchener Stitch until I did one sock with her book in my lap.

Anyway, as you can see, Taylor's little birthday surprise (which her mommy already happened to see the other day...oops!) came from that book. I just thought she'd like a little color on her ankles instead of a little fur. And, of course, the toes needed some color for balance. The VERY observant will recognize this yarn from a previous project. The pink/multi is Adriafil Fluo Pink 25 and the solid is Elsebeth Lavold Cotton Patine' 17. And I just can't stop playing with these socks. Each new pair I make is my new favorite!

Well, OK

2006-06-30T20:13:00.000-05:00

Which Princess Bride Character are You?
this quiz was made by mysti

Since she did it, I had to find out....And now I know, I guess.

So I mentioned that I've been making socks...

2006-06-27T19:48:00.000-05:00

...so I thought I'd let you see a little of what I've been doing.

These are for my little guy. We call the Super Hero socks because of the colors. The yarn's OnLine, but I don't have the band here, so I don't have the color number. They're in progress and should be done before the weekend. They'd be done sooner, but we've got a pretty packed week after tonight.

I'm looking forward to being done with them so I can make myself a pairs of socks! Mine will be out of Lion Brand Jelly Bean Stripe. I just have to fiddle with the pattern that I have been liking so much. Someday I'll investigate toe-up patterns, but I kind of like finishing with the toe and not the endless ribbing.

The other ones I finished recently are for my cousin's baby boy. I made his big brother a pair when I visited them earlier this spring, so the little guy will have a matching pair for this fall:

Now to get them in the mail before this fall!

Stuff you never wanted to know...

2006-06-26T21:18:00.000-05:00

Got this in my email tonight...(I know there are numbers missing...I can't explain it, I just left it the way it was!)

1. What time did you get up this morning? woke up at 6:00...got out of bed at 6:45

2. Diamonds or pearls? diamonds

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Over Their Heads...I mean Over the Hedge

4. What is your favorite TV show? Law & Order (OK, the real ones were Players and Stark Raving Mad, but they cancelled both of those.)

5. What did you have for breakfast? XS Energy Drink

7. What is your favorite cuisine? um...chocolate?

8. What foods do you dislike? guacamole and Spam

9. Your favorite Potato chip? Pringles

10. What is your favorite CD at the moment? Sadly, Monster Madness

11. What kind of car do you drive? Chevy Cavalier

12. Favorite sandwich? Urban Cowboy from Gandolfo's NY Style Deli

13. What characteristics do you despise? stupidity and careless driving

14. Favorite item of clothing? the poncho I kit for myself

15. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Hawaii and then Kennywood

16. What color is your bathroom? pale yellow, blue, and green

17. Favorite brand of clothing? CJ Banks

18. Where would you want to retire? Kennywood

20. Where were you born? Pittsburgh, PA

21. Favorite sport to watch? my kid's games

22. Who do you least expect to send this back?

23. Person you expect to send it back first?

24. What laundry scent do you use? SA 8 Sunburst Fresh

25. Coke or Pepsi? Pepsi or Diet Coke

26. Are you a morning person or night owl? Night Owl

27. What size shoe do you wear? 8-8.5

28. Do you have pets? 3 cats and 1 dog

29. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with everyone? my hubby just snagged his first wedding as a photographer today!

30. What did you want to be when you were little? teacher

31. Favorite Candy Bar? M&Ms

32. What is your best childhood memory? 1 was a great family vacation in Ligonier, PA; there are lots!

33. What are the different jobs you have had in your life? Arby's help, BK help, cashier, French tutor, mall store help, Blockbuster Video manager, telemarketer, laundry attendant, credit card phone operator, fraud detection analyst, programmer, software tester

34. What color underwear are you wearing? blue with yellow stripes

35. Nicknames! Kir

36. Piercing? ears

37. Eye color? brown

38. Ever been to Africa? No, but let's go!

39. Ever been toilet papering or rolling? nope

40. Love someone so much it made you cry? sure

41. Been in a car accident? yes

42. Croutons or bacon bits? bacon bits

43. Favorite day(s) of the week? anything but Monday!

44. Favorite restaurant? at the moment? Qdoba

45. Favorite flower? fresh picked dandelions

46. Favorite ice-cream(s)? Phish Food

47. Disney or Warner Brothers? neither (Sorry, Pam!)

48. Favorite fast food restaurant? Qdoba

49. What color is your bedroom carpet? beige, just like the rest of the house

51. Before this one, from whom did you get your last email? Toys R Us

52. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? KnitPicks

53. What do you do most often when you are bored? knit, sleep, read

54. Bedtime? ASAP! (Like as soon as I'm done with this!)

55. Who are you most curious about their responses to this questionnaire?

56. Last person you went to dinner with? hubby and my little buddy along with my folks

58. What are you listening to right now? my dog slurping water

60. Lake, Ocean or river? any water! I'm landlocked!!!

61. How many tattoos do you have? none

62. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? chicken

63. How many people are you sending this to?

64. Who sent this to you and what is something you didn't know about them? my birthday buddy...I'd have pegged her as a pearls girl

65. Time you finished this email? 9:13pm

Nice to see you!

2006-06-24T14:14:00.000-05:00

And nice to be seen. Llife has a way of getting crazy just ehn you think you're going to get a chance to catch your breath, doesn't it?

Anyway, here are some things I've been up to. First, the socks that started the whole thing.

These were made from a Classic Elite Funky Cotton Socks kit (that I picked up in about 1999 maybe?) which calls for size 6 needles. I've been using a modified version of the pattern on size 3s to make kids socks. This has fast become my favorite brainless project!

I was going to use this forum to see if someone could explain a part of the pattern that I was ignoring because it wasn't making sense. The socks were coming out fine, so I figured someday it would just dawn on me waht in the world they were talking about. So, I just went and got the pattern to ask my question, and...ta-dah! It all makes sense now. Figures. Guess I'll be able to sleep now.

Anyway, a friend of mine is having a baby girl any day now, so I have also been working on a cute little dress for her (the pattern for which can be found here. It's all sown up and awaiting blocking (...where did I put that inspiration? I'm sure I just had it a minute ago!)

And to go with the little wrap dress, a pair of baby ballet slippers inspired by a baby bootie pattern in Family Circle Easy Knitting's Spring/Summer '99 issue. The original pattern was for a pair of Mary Janes, and I was going to just make 'em in pink (and a little smaller), but since the wrap dress has a bit of ballet delicacy, I decided to skip the straps and leave the slippers as they were.

They're cute stuffed with Kleenex, but they'll be even cuter when they're stuffed with baby feet!

I'll try to make it less than 2 months next time!

Da goods

2006-04-25T23:01:00.000-05:00

Here are the socks, modeled by their owner (who points his little feet so that they look like bows!) (Tonight I finished another pair just like them for my little guy.)

And here's the little kitchen thing I made for my intarsia class a couple of weeks ago. I don't remember which yarns they are, but that variegated pink stuff just screamed to be an Easter egg. (Instructor's egg, my towel design...it arose out of the desire to do something with it once I had mastered the color knitting.):

This is a a wrap thing that started out as a much bigger wrap thing in about 1998. It's from a Red Heart pattern with their yarn. The pattern stitch is kind of neat, but there's a point in the pattern that no matter how tired nor how rested I was, the thing just wouldn't make sense. So, I finished the seed stitch border and bound off. Life's too short! Mom thought it might help keep her warm in her office.

And the sock addiction continues. We're starting a road trip tomorrow, and I can't wait to get on the road to start the next pair! Lucy Neatby's coming to my LYS in about a week, but her sock class is already booked. I may stop by and snoop while she's there! I think a week later the Mason-Dixon tour arrives. I'm definitely going to drop in on that fun!

My trip's 4 days...I'll let you know how many socks I knock out. ('Course, there's also this baby cardigan that's on the needles, and I'd like to get that done so that the child doesn't outgrow it by the time I get it to her mother...or maybe she'd like a nice pair of socks!)

It all started...

2006-04-24T19:42:00.000-05:00

...with the purchase of some new furniture. The living room was looking unliveable, so we picked up some organizational furniture (read: furniture with doors.) And so began The Great Rearrangement...as well as my blog hiatus!

I did manage to get the taxes done and post-marked (thanks Hon!) before the deadline. I also finished the shrug, my aunt's scarf, Mom's muppet scarf, and 2 2/3 pairs of socks. And you'd get to see some of them if I could get the photos uploaded. Ah, the suspense.

I am totally in love with my new size 3 Takumi dpns. I made my first pair of socks last weekend on a set of aluminum size 6 needles that I had around. Then, while out of town on a new baby visit, I picked up the Takumis and a couple of balls of self-striping Regia.

I have considered that I may never knit anything but socks again. I imagine I'll get over it, but I am really addicted to socks. I became intrigued by sock knitting after reading .The Yarn Harlot's description of the allure of knitting socks. She's right. They're fun to make, they're practical, and they're ordinary, everyday. It's not the newest, neato, whiz-bang toys that let my little guy know I really love him, it's the bedtime stories every night. Socks are the bedtime stories.

I'll post the pictures when I can get them to cooperate. I have to go finish a sock. And then read a bedtime story.

The scarf and I, we are friends again

2006-04-05T20:23:00.000-05:00

I did it. I asked opinions, I weighed the options, I rationalized. Heck, I ignored the thing for days. And then I frogged. It is a gift, after all. And I am so much happier with it. I am once again confident that I will have it done in time.

My taxes...those are another story!

Tonight I am going to work on blocking the shrug and then knock off some more rows of the scarf while doing puzzles with my little one and (hopefully) catching the next episode of 24 Season 1.

Speaking of the little guy, not long ago, I finished a Jester's Hat for him from an older issue of Family Circle Easy Knitting (in some colorful Red Heart that I had around; the other stuff in the picture is just some things that wouldn't let me leave the store without them a few weeks ago.)

Get this...now he wants one made with blue and gold Festive Fur! (He's only in preschool...this kind of thing is cool for him.)

You want details, eh?

2006-04-01T10:46:00.000-06:00

Here are the particulars on the WIPs in my last post:

The scarf for my aunt began life as 4 hanks of Classic Elite Sunlight color #5577, a gorgeous cotton rayon blend that I picked up at the previously mentioned LYS in, oh, about 1999. I bought 4 hanks and the store owner asked me what I was going to make with it. I told her I thought I would make a scarf for my cousin. The look she gave me told me that this yarn (which I was paying real money for) was meant for so much more. I took it home and fondled it and put it away and took it out and fondled it and put it away. When an aunt told me in January that she wanted a scarf for her dress coat, I just knew which yarn I wanted to use. It's a rather natural cotton with a nice shiny rayon ply, so I think it can go from more casual to dressy. Then I found the pattern in a booklet of...well...dishcloths. I just trimmed the width from 3 repeats to 2 and I really like the results.

But alas, I have run into a slight issue. I wound one ball and started knitting. One night I needed a little diversion, so I wound a second ball. When I joined the second ball days later, I noticed that the yarn felt lighter. I figured it was probably just a couple inches worth, but 3 inches into the scarf, it's still the same weight. So, I'll have to (hand) wind another of the hanks and switch, because I am not frogging over this. I'm not. Stop trying to tell me I'll like it better if I just do it right. I'm not ripping those rows out. I know all about the integrity of the garment if I just have the one join. Stop trying to convince me. I'm not going back! (Well, maybe...I mean it is a gift, after all.)

Before I bought the Sunlight, I purchased about 7 balls of Shepherd Aran by Cynthia Helene in Terracotta Kemp from the bargain bin at the same LYS. When quizzed about what these would turn into by the owner, I answered with "I'm not sure." (For those who are keeping score, this was apparently an acceptable answer.) And it has sat in the stash for nearly 7 years. As it turns out, the aunt for whom I am making the scarf has a daughter who is getting married later this month. In a weird moment of stream of conciousness while considering what I was going to wear to the wedding, I realized that the dress I was considering was of a similar color to Clementine in 25 Bags to Knit by Emma King. That led me to realize that I already owned un-spoken-for yarn of a similar color (albeit a completely different weight/fiber.) The kicker is that both the dress and the purse pattern have little flowers on them. Since I had so much of the stuff (a little foreshadowing here), I cared little about gauge and just went to it. I figured it would work up a little bigger than the bag in the book. But it's a purse and I'm a mom. More room's generally better anyway. Here's the purse so far (unblocked and no embroidery):

Anyway, I had about 5 balls left over and where the wedding is is likely to still be a little chilly at the end of the month, so I started thinking of a shrug. I came across a very simple pattern for one in the Spring/Summer '99 Family Circle Easy Knitting (p. 40.) The pattern calls for 2 strands of Lion Imagine plus 1 strand of Lion Chenille Sensations. So I actually (prepare yourself!) knit a gauge swatch and started on the math. And in a move that almost always spells disaster, I started to knit the shrug knowing that I was within 10 yards of enough. I cast on and frogged it 4 times because I was just that obsessed with getting to the end with enough yarn. Then I couldn't take the suspense and knit the thing by the end of the week. With just enough yarn to spare to sew it together. The collar piece doesn't look like it's going to block to the right measurements, so I'm putting off finishing it.

In the meantime, there's the garter stich of Mom's Muppet scarf.

Other things I'm up to

2006-03-26T12:00:00.000-06:00

In addition to the diversion of the Muppet scarf, I am also working on a scarf for my aunt:

one for my husband:

and a shrug for me:

Some recently finished objects coming soon!

My newest WIP

2006-03-24T09:06:00.000-06:00

After about a 3 year hiatus from one of my LYSs, I dropped in yesterday for a look around. The hiatus was the result of a couple of less than stellar experiences. Fortunately, I recently came across a review of the store and, while I was not the only one who had a negative experience some time ago, it turns out that the place is under new, friendlier management. So, I bought some yarn. And some back issues of Family Circle Easy Knitting. (Apparently in one of the many moves over the last several years, they lost track of me...and I was too busy with mommying, working, schooling, and life in general to notice! I still like the magazine, so I'll probably restart my subscription ASAP.)

I picked up one hank of Ttrendsetter's Voila in a teal (color 05) and two balls of something Italian (no ball band at the moment, I'll get back to you on that...) in a muted rainbow colorway because I think my mother needs a Muppet-ish scarf. So here's the bias fella I started last night:

This gifty has no actual deadline, but it will be great for some mindless quick rows while working on my other guys. I'll introduce you to the others (as well as some recently finished objects) soon.

(Too many parentheses, right?)

Ta-dah!

2006-03-23T19:26:00.000-06:00

Here we have it!

I have been on the fence about this blog business for weeks. Don't get me wrong...I read'em every day. I just wasn't sure I had enough to say that other people would give a good gosh darn about. Well, I suppose now we'll all find out, eh?