Sunday, October 31, 2004
Two Days in the Valley
Lehigh Valley, that is.
By this time Tuesday, I will have voted for my candidate and will be sitting on pins and needles waiting to hear the outcome of the election. We are getting phone calls regularly from both sides of the race. Whatever gave the opposition the idea that we are "undecided?"
There were folks walking door to door earlier. Either they were campaigning, or they were distributing religious tracts. Either way, I wasn't sure I wanted them knocking on my door, so I stuck my Kerry poster in the front window and returned to cleaning the bathroom.
I will be glad when this election is over!
Friday, I scored this:
Lovers of foo foo scarves will be very happy with this newest offering! Yes, I looked inside before I paid for it, and yes, I saw a couple of redeeming patterns.
I started this:
Yeh, that's the green plastic yarn. So shoot me!
There's an interesting overall cabled sweater, a basic kids' raglan with cute embelishments, a modular afghan, and a lot of butt-ugly crochet. It was worth the $4.50 cover price (to me). YMMV
And I did get more bears. So I have a total of 14. I just love the purple ones! They didn't have that color at "the Tree" when I bought the first batch. Sweaters are done for the first 2.
Like the lopi, I probably won't be posting more pictures until there's something to see.
And speaking of the lopi, I am about 3" from the yoke. So, perhaps, there will be a photo tomorrow.
By this time Tuesday, I will have voted for my candidate and will be sitting on pins and needles waiting to hear the outcome of the election. We are getting phone calls regularly from both sides of the race. Whatever gave the opposition the idea that we are "undecided?"
There were folks walking door to door earlier. Either they were campaigning, or they were distributing religious tracts. Either way, I wasn't sure I wanted them knocking on my door, so I stuck my Kerry poster in the front window and returned to cleaning the bathroom.
I will be glad when this election is over!
Friday, I scored this:
Lovers of foo foo scarves will be very happy with this newest offering! Yes, I looked inside before I paid for it, and yes, I saw a couple of redeeming patterns.
I started this:
Yeh, that's the green plastic yarn. So shoot me!
There's an interesting overall cabled sweater, a basic kids' raglan with cute embelishments, a modular afghan, and a lot of butt-ugly crochet. It was worth the $4.50 cover price (to me). YMMV
And I did get more bears. So I have a total of 14. I just love the purple ones! They didn't have that color at "the Tree" when I bought the first batch. Sweaters are done for the first 2.
Like the lopi, I probably won't be posting more pictures until there's something to see.
And speaking of the lopi, I am about 3" from the yoke. So, perhaps, there will be a photo tomorrow.
Friday, October 29, 2004
The Bears and I
It's been a long week. I really needthis weekend. If I were smart, I'd already be in my jammies and sleeping. Need I say more?
But then, I wouldn't be able to show you this:
Isn't he sweet? Dollar Tree 10" teddy in a handknit sweater. Pattern from Knitting Pattern a Day Calendar (June 22). Yes, I opened it. Yes, I looked at the whole thing. When I was a kid, I opened all my Christmas presents ahead of time, too. Then sealed them back up. I was a master at it. So shut up!
I'll be using some of my oddballs to dress all of his cousins and sibs:
I may even buy more!
But then, I wouldn't be able to show you this:
Isn't he sweet? Dollar Tree 10" teddy in a handknit sweater. Pattern from Knitting Pattern a Day Calendar (June 22). Yes, I opened it. Yes, I looked at the whole thing. When I was a kid, I opened all my Christmas presents ahead of time, too. Then sealed them back up. I was a master at it. So shut up!
I'll be using some of my oddballs to dress all of his cousins and sibs:
I may even buy more!
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Halloween
Yeh, yeh, I know.
But this is a small town and small towns live for Tradition! So the Wednesday before the big day is always Trick or Treat even if the big day is a Friday or Saturday. Go figure!
The Scooby Doo gang just left and so did the cutest little cheerleader! We are giving Tootsie Rolls and Sour Patch Kids, but actually, we are eating the Sour Patches ourselves.
So there!
And the good news is, the big kid that lives here has plopped Himself on a chair on the porch and is distributing the Tootsie Rolls and eating the Sour Patch Kids. That many less for me! Yeah!
One Halloween, he and his buddy dressed as scarecrows and sat on the porch very, very still. (These scarecrows-on-the-porch (stuffed) are another local tradition.) They looked pretty good. A little girl (8?9?) came on the porch. Her dad was just outside the circle of the porch light.
She rang the bell.
They s-l-o-w-l-y rose.
She screamed.
Her dad laughed so hard that I am sure he wet himself.
Trick or treat!
Baby Bear is finished. And it is as cute as a bug's ear (huh?):
Now to figure out what to do next. . .
But this is a small town and small towns live for Tradition! So the Wednesday before the big day is always Trick or Treat even if the big day is a Friday or Saturday. Go figure!
The Scooby Doo gang just left and so did the cutest little cheerleader! We are giving Tootsie Rolls and Sour Patch Kids, but actually, we are eating the Sour Patches ourselves.
So there!
And the good news is, the big kid that lives here has plopped Himself on a chair on the porch and is distributing the Tootsie Rolls and eating the Sour Patch Kids. That many less for me! Yeah!
One Halloween, he and his buddy dressed as scarecrows and sat on the porch very, very still. (These scarecrows-on-the-porch (stuffed) are another local tradition.) They looked pretty good. A little girl (8?9?) came on the porch. Her dad was just outside the circle of the porch light.
She rang the bell.
They s-l-o-w-l-y rose.
She screamed.
Her dad laughed so hard that I am sure he wet himself.
Trick or treat!
Baby Bear is finished. And it is as cute as a bug's ear (huh?):
Now to figure out what to do next. . .
Tuesday, October 26, 2004
Corky
I have never been able to master the "corking spool" (aka, knitting knobby, horse rein maker, etc.). And I've never really needed to. Making i-cord on 2 double-pointed needles works just fine for me. I can churn out copious amounts of i-cord in very little time.
But my double-points have met their match!
Witness:
That's 30 inches of i-cord. Perfect stuff. Size 2 needle stuff. Sock yarn, don'tcha know! That nifty little gadget behind that bit of perfect i-cord churned it out in under 5 minutes!
This was my second try at using the magicord machine that I bought months ago when Bond America had them on sale at their website. I sincerely doubt that I will ever embellish lampshades with this cord, but as far as cord goes, it's pretty neat!
It has its limitations, though. Lighter-weight yarns and threads only. But that's okay. The heavier stuff goes fast on double-pointed needles.
But my double-points have met their match!
Witness:
That's 30 inches of i-cord. Perfect stuff. Size 2 needle stuff. Sock yarn, don'tcha know! That nifty little gadget behind that bit of perfect i-cord churned it out in under 5 minutes!
This was my second try at using the magicord machine that I bought months ago when Bond America had them on sale at their website. I sincerely doubt that I will ever embellish lampshades with this cord, but as far as cord goes, it's pretty neat!
It has its limitations, though. Lighter-weight yarns and threads only. But that's okay. The heavier stuff goes fast on double-pointed needles.
Monday, October 25, 2004
The Purple Gang
Okay, I admit that I love purple! It's my current favorite color, in fact. My favorite jacket is a short purple mohair number that not only fits well and is cozy warm, but is also purple, so there!
(Which makes me wonder whatever happened to my lifelong love of yellow-orange?)
Some (oh, hell, a lot) of the yarn in my stash is purple, with lovely names like lilac, lavender, plum, aubergine, eggplant, cassis, and velvet plum (doesn't that evoke images?). There's also a baby yarn in a color called Calypso, and even though the name doesn't sound purple, the yarn sure is purple!
But I digress ("yet again," my loyal readers are muttering under their collective breath).
It should come as no surprise that the most recent projects off my needles are purple.
First up is Sophie, a pretty little felted purse in Classic Elite Waterspun "Orchid."
She was a fast knit (2 days?) and a fast felt (2 trips through the washer by itself except for a runaway sock that was none the worse for wear after 2 16-minute HOT cycles.)
Sophie pre-
and post-
felting. Don't you just love that twisted handle?
And here's a lovely little scarf that took many weeks longer than necessary. I started it on a Labor Day weekend bus trip to Washington, DC, and finished it yesterday.
(obligatory bathroom mirror shot)
Note to self: Wash the mirror!
It's Fiber Trends pattern #AC-32 (Versatile Scarfs) using 2 balls of Austermann Marina (superwash merino). This pattern is well worth the price! It shows how to make a triangle scarf that doesn't wad up on your neck. It shouldn't be terribly hard for experinced lace-knitters to jazz it up a bit.
It was abandoned because I decided that I no longer wanted to give it to the ungrateful (rhymes with) witch that I planned to give it to when I started.
Then, one of the men-in-my-life commented that it would be a great color for another person (she's getting Sophie), and I decided that he was right. So I finished it up, got it really wet, spun it out and blocked it.
Now it's dry, waiting for Christmas. Or the day after tomorrow.
(Which makes me wonder whatever happened to my lifelong love of yellow-orange?)
Some (oh, hell, a lot) of the yarn in my stash is purple, with lovely names like lilac, lavender, plum, aubergine, eggplant, cassis, and velvet plum (doesn't that evoke images?). There's also a baby yarn in a color called Calypso, and even though the name doesn't sound purple, the yarn sure is purple!
But I digress ("yet again," my loyal readers are muttering under their collective breath).
It should come as no surprise that the most recent projects off my needles are purple.
First up is Sophie, a pretty little felted purse in Classic Elite Waterspun "Orchid."
She was a fast knit (2 days?) and a fast felt (2 trips through the washer by itself except for a runaway sock that was none the worse for wear after 2 16-minute HOT cycles.)
Sophie pre-
and post-
felting. Don't you just love that twisted handle?
And here's a lovely little scarf that took many weeks longer than necessary. I started it on a Labor Day weekend bus trip to Washington, DC, and finished it yesterday.
(obligatory bathroom mirror shot)
Note to self: Wash the mirror!
It's Fiber Trends pattern #AC-32 (Versatile Scarfs) using 2 balls of Austermann Marina (superwash merino). This pattern is well worth the price! It shows how to make a triangle scarf that doesn't wad up on your neck. It shouldn't be terribly hard for experinced lace-knitters to jazz it up a bit.
It was abandoned because I decided that I no longer wanted to give it to the ungrateful (rhymes with) witch that I planned to give it to when I started.
Then, one of the men-in-my-life commented that it would be a great color for another person (she's getting Sophie), and I decided that he was right. So I finished it up, got it really wet, spun it out and blocked it.
Now it's dry, waiting for Christmas. Or the day after tomorrow.
Saturday, October 23, 2004
RocketMan
I try to learn something new every day. No, really!
(Doesn't that sound better than saying "every once in a great while, dumb luck prevails and something wonderful comes from it?")
So, here is the new thing I learned today.
Adding text to photos!
And let me tell you, it was mostly trial and error, and a lot of re-loading the same photo because I couldn't get the delete or erase to work on the text, but I am so proud of myself!
Just take a look:
I got several of these toothbrushes to add to my next box for Cheyenne River Reservation WIC Center. Found them at the Dollar Tree for a buck apiece. Why didn't they have cute stuff like this when I was (or for that matter, my kids were) small??
Did you know that WIC (the federal Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) provides health care, nutrition counseling and education, and food to pregnant and post-partum women, babies, and little kids through age 5? It's one of the most effective government programs going. And it's highly under-utilized!
And one of the biggest health care needs of the little guys is dental!
The WIC program requested toothbrushes this month (also toothpaste and sippy cups to promote early weaning that prevents "bottle mouth).
(Doesn't that sound better than saying "every once in a great while, dumb luck prevails and something wonderful comes from it?")
So, here is the new thing I learned today.
Adding text to photos!
And let me tell you, it was mostly trial and error, and a lot of re-loading the same photo because I couldn't get the delete or erase to work on the text, but I am so proud of myself!
Just take a look:
I got several of these toothbrushes to add to my next box for Cheyenne River Reservation WIC Center. Found them at the Dollar Tree for a buck apiece. Why didn't they have cute stuff like this when I was (or for that matter, my kids were) small??
Did you know that WIC (the federal Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) provides health care, nutrition counseling and education, and food to pregnant and post-partum women, babies, and little kids through age 5? It's one of the most effective government programs going. And it's highly under-utilized!
And one of the biggest health care needs of the little guys is dental!
The WIC program requested toothbrushes this month (also toothpaste and sippy cups to promote early weaning that prevents "bottle mouth).
Needful Things
I got up early this morning. I get up early every morning, even when I don't have to (like this morning). It's a body clock thing.
So, this morning, I got up early, put on my robe, and sat quietly at the computer, reading e-mail and browsing the blogs I like (many more than are on my list) when it suddenly came to me: this room is a pig-sty!
Well, normally, I could just ignore that sort of revelation, but not this morning.
Note: there are no pictures of the worst of the mess!
I started by organizing the mess on my knitting machine table (close your eyes and picture so much stuff piled on the Bond that the cat was afraid to jump up there). Now, everything is sorted into 2 little baskets (plastic) and a bowl (ceramic), and I could actually cast on if I chose to.
I moved on to the basket-of-yarn scraps and threw away [!] all of the actual scraps and neatly balled up all of the odd balls.
Then I turned to (or is it on?) my needles. I gathered them all from everywhere. Any needle not actually actively involved in a project and threw them in here:
Then I matched up pairs, quartets, and quintets, put them into their sleeves (if they had sleeves) or into "pencil cases" by size if they didn't, and
Voila!
Isn't that a whole lot better?
And last night, I cast on a new project, Sophie , and here's how far I got:
I'm using Classic Elte Waterspun in Orchid. I sure hope it felts! Sophie is a 2 day knit plus felting/drying time. It's a present for someone who (I think) doesn't read these ramblings.
And I made some progress on Baby Bear:
I love how the reverse stockinette rows control the roll at the bottom! It gets bell sleeves with a similar edge treatment and a ribbon lacing at the neck, but I think I'll haul out my "Magicord" machine and do i-cord instead. It will look so much better than ribbon after multiple trips through the laundry!
And I rolled another ball for my second Lopi.
So, this morning, I got up early, put on my robe, and sat quietly at the computer, reading e-mail and browsing the blogs I like (many more than are on my list) when it suddenly came to me: this room is a pig-sty!
Well, normally, I could just ignore that sort of revelation, but not this morning.
Note: there are no pictures of the worst of the mess!
I started by organizing the mess on my knitting machine table (close your eyes and picture so much stuff piled on the Bond that the cat was afraid to jump up there). Now, everything is sorted into 2 little baskets (plastic) and a bowl (ceramic), and I could actually cast on if I chose to.
I moved on to the basket-of-yarn scraps and threw away [!] all of the actual scraps and neatly balled up all of the odd balls.
Then I turned to (or is it on?) my needles. I gathered them all from everywhere. Any needle not actually actively involved in a project and threw them in here:
Then I matched up pairs, quartets, and quintets, put them into their sleeves (if they had sleeves) or into "pencil cases" by size if they didn't, and
Voila!
Isn't that a whole lot better?
And last night, I cast on a new project, Sophie , and here's how far I got:
I'm using Classic Elte Waterspun in Orchid. I sure hope it felts! Sophie is a 2 day knit plus felting/drying time. It's a present for someone who (I think) doesn't read these ramblings.
And I made some progress on Baby Bear:
I love how the reverse stockinette rows control the roll at the bottom! It gets bell sleeves with a similar edge treatment and a ribbon lacing at the neck, but I think I'll haul out my "Magicord" machine and do i-cord instead. It will look so much better than ribbon after multiple trips through the laundry!
And I rolled another ball for my second Lopi.
Monday, October 18, 2004
The Green Promise
Not much to say. Lot of mindless knitting accomplished on Baby Bear today. I'm past the sleeve breakout and finished with the increases. See?
I'm not crazy about the yoke patterning, or lack thereof. Maybe it's the way I read the pattern, but the back increases (not shown) call for working the new stitches "in pattern" which I took to mean "moss stitch." The front directions don't say anything so I worked that wedge, either side of the increases (lifted M1) in stockinette. It looks sort of like the photo (hard to see the pattern very well), but I'm not sure I like the way that looks. If you know what I mean, raise your hand or comment, would ya?
I think I will try this again in the geranium or the gold and work the baby cables into the back increases as stitches present, and maybe in the front as well. Or maybe just the moss stitch in the front. In any event, something a bit less plain the next time. Who the heck knows?
The hem treatment promises to be enlightening. It's just 6 rows of reverse stockinette. Will that be enough to prevent roll? And if it is, will it work on bigger ponchos and other sweaters?
It looks a lot bettter in person, or at least less lumpy. Surprising, though. I am not even halfway through the second ball of yarn (pattern calls for 3).
Tomorrow night will be a wash, I'm afraid. I won't be home until after 8. Then I'll be ready to crash....................................zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
I'm not crazy about the yoke patterning, or lack thereof. Maybe it's the way I read the pattern, but the back increases (not shown) call for working the new stitches "in pattern" which I took to mean "moss stitch." The front directions don't say anything so I worked that wedge, either side of the increases (lifted M1) in stockinette. It looks sort of like the photo (hard to see the pattern very well), but I'm not sure I like the way that looks. If you know what I mean, raise your hand or comment, would ya?
I think I will try this again in the geranium or the gold and work the baby cables into the back increases as stitches present, and maybe in the front as well. Or maybe just the moss stitch in the front. In any event, something a bit less plain the next time. Who the heck knows?
The hem treatment promises to be enlightening. It's just 6 rows of reverse stockinette. Will that be enough to prevent roll? And if it is, will it work on bigger ponchos and other sweaters?
It looks a lot bettter in person, or at least less lumpy. Surprising, though. I am not even halfway through the second ball of yarn (pattern calls for 3).
Tomorrow night will be a wash, I'm afraid. I won't be home until after 8. Then I'll be ready to crash....................................zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Sunday, October 17, 2004
Feet First
As promised, a relatively quick way to churn out slippers using the Bond USM for the "boring parts."
An old stand-by, and one of the approved slipper patterns for Ship Support can be found at Aunt Alm's Dorm Boots . It's a pretty simple, basic pattern, and takes a couple of hours to execute.
I've been making this pattern for a while, and embellishing and adapting the pattern, first from flat to circular knitting, then adding a bit of a curve at the heel when the squareness started to bug me.
WhenI took that pattern to my Bond, I discovered that I could get through the stockinette part in just about 12 minutes per slipper ! I was home free. The biggest change I needed to make was in where the seam falls (front of foot rather than up the back of the leg). I like the rolled cuff that stockinette makes, though I have made these with ribbed cuffs, too.
The samples were made with Berella Chunky Special Blend (acrylic/wool--long discontinued) and Bernat Softee Chunkee, both from Smiley's.
Here's what I do:
Open cast on 80 stitches, using KP4 and "chunky" yarn.
Knit 1 row.
On every following row, decrease 1 stitch each side until 40 stitches are left.
Knit 15 rows even. Bind off.
Remove the hem, transferring the open stitches to an appropriate size needle. Beginning with the wrong side, if using the same color for the sole as used to cast on or the right side if the sole will be a contrast color, knit (by hand) 10-12 rows. You can use garter stitch (k every row) or some other thick pattern (moss stitch, seed stitch work well). On the last two right side rows, decrease 2 stitches at the center of the row. Bind off loosely.
Seam, weave in ends.
I want to be sure to thank whomever it was on whichever of my e-lists that suggested using a Sharpie marker to number the needles on the Bond. I did, and it has really speeded up my production knitting. Thanks, unknown Bonder!
And here's what's going on with the Baby Bear Poncho:
I'm almost to the spot where the sleeves go their separate way.
An old stand-by, and one of the approved slipper patterns for Ship Support can be found at Aunt Alm's Dorm Boots . It's a pretty simple, basic pattern, and takes a couple of hours to execute.
I've been making this pattern for a while, and embellishing and adapting the pattern, first from flat to circular knitting, then adding a bit of a curve at the heel when the squareness started to bug me.
WhenI took that pattern to my Bond, I discovered that I could get through the stockinette part in just about 12 minutes per slipper ! I was home free. The biggest change I needed to make was in where the seam falls (front of foot rather than up the back of the leg). I like the rolled cuff that stockinette makes, though I have made these with ribbed cuffs, too.
The samples were made with Berella Chunky Special Blend (acrylic/wool--long discontinued) and Bernat Softee Chunkee, both from Smiley's.
Here's what I do:
Open cast on 80 stitches, using KP4 and "chunky" yarn.
Knit 1 row.
On every following row, decrease 1 stitch each side until 40 stitches are left.
Knit 15 rows even. Bind off.
Remove the hem, transferring the open stitches to an appropriate size needle. Beginning with the wrong side, if using the same color for the sole as used to cast on or the right side if the sole will be a contrast color, knit (by hand) 10-12 rows. You can use garter stitch (k every row) or some other thick pattern (moss stitch, seed stitch work well). On the last two right side rows, decrease 2 stitches at the center of the row. Bind off loosely.
Seam, weave in ends.
I want to be sure to thank whomever it was on whichever of my e-lists that suggested using a Sharpie marker to number the needles on the Bond. I did, and it has really speeded up my production knitting. Thanks, unknown Bonder!
And here's what's going on with the Baby Bear Poncho:
I'm almost to the spot where the sleeves go their separate way.
Labels: knit recipes
Saturday, October 16, 2004
Sweet Charity
I like to knit! I tried selling my stuff and became disgusted with myself (for selling so cheap) and at my "customers" (for being so cheap). My family has more knitwear (sweaters, socks, afghan) than they know what to do with. So I turn, a lot of the time, to giving the stuff away.
Currently, I knit for Petfinders.com , Ship Support (more later about this), and folks on the Cheyenne River (Lakota Sioux) Reservation in South Dakota .
Lots of folks do charity knitting. It's what Carol Anderson (Cottage Creations) calls "projects for the community." Indeed, she has produced 3 wonderful booklets of unisex (mostly) multi-sizes-fit-most patterns. The booklets are available at LYS across the country, or direct from the source: cotcreat@rconnect.com.
Carol's simple designs prompted me to develop some of my own.
Like this hat:
On my Bond Ultimate Sweater Machine. It's the same hat, outside in, and inside out.
Since I make these hats to give away, and there's always a head that will fit into one, I use a generic formula, not a pattern. If you have a specific head in mind, you wil need to swatch and do the math. Sorry!
The recipe: Using worsted weight smooth yarn (acrylic, wool, or a blend), open cast on 70 (for a toddler) or 80 (for an older child or small adult) stitches, leaving a relatively long (12" or so) tail for weaving the edges together.
I like to use a variety of similar yarns in coordinating or contrasting colors. Frankly, this is a good way to use up small odd balls. I used all my pink odd-balls for the sample, cast on 70 stitches and knit until all the yarn was used up.
Knit plain for about 150 (toddler) to 180 (bigger) rows (or more if you want a wider cuff, or a deeper crown). Last row: k 2 together across by hand manipulating every other stitch to the needle to the right (You will have 2 stitches on every other needle, with an empty needle between. Move the empty needles to non-working position.) then slowly knitting this last row.
Cut the yarn, leaving about 12-18". Thread a yarn needle with this tail and draw up the open stitches.
Remove the cast on hem, using the long tail at the cast on to "capture" all of the open stitches. Do not draw this tight yet.
Return to the cast off end and close the seam using the cast off tail and mattress stitch. Fasten off and clip the yarn. Using the cast on tail, draw up the cast on stitches, secure the ends. Don't clip the tail yet!
Push the cast off end inside the cast on end. Straighten the seam. Use the cast on tail to tack the two layers together at the gathers. Turn up a cuff.
Make another and another.
Donate them.
The first fall that I had my USM (2001), I bought many pounds of mill ends and made about 50 of these simple caps.
Bonus: My mattress stitch got pretty darned good from all the practice.
Currently, I knit for Petfinders.com , Ship Support (more later about this), and folks on the Cheyenne River (Lakota Sioux) Reservation in South Dakota .
Lots of folks do charity knitting. It's what Carol Anderson (Cottage Creations) calls "projects for the community." Indeed, she has produced 3 wonderful booklets of unisex (mostly) multi-sizes-fit-most patterns. The booklets are available at LYS across the country, or direct from the source: cotcreat@rconnect.com.
Carol's simple designs prompted me to develop some of my own.
Like this hat:
On my Bond Ultimate Sweater Machine. It's the same hat, outside in, and inside out.
Since I make these hats to give away, and there's always a head that will fit into one, I use a generic formula, not a pattern. If you have a specific head in mind, you wil need to swatch and do the math. Sorry!
The recipe: Using worsted weight smooth yarn (acrylic, wool, or a blend), open cast on 70 (for a toddler) or 80 (for an older child or small adult) stitches, leaving a relatively long (12" or so) tail for weaving the edges together.
I like to use a variety of similar yarns in coordinating or contrasting colors. Frankly, this is a good way to use up small odd balls. I used all my pink odd-balls for the sample, cast on 70 stitches and knit until all the yarn was used up.
Knit plain for about 150 (toddler) to 180 (bigger) rows (or more if you want a wider cuff, or a deeper crown). Last row: k 2 together across by hand manipulating every other stitch to the needle to the right (You will have 2 stitches on every other needle, with an empty needle between. Move the empty needles to non-working position.) then slowly knitting this last row.
Cut the yarn, leaving about 12-18". Thread a yarn needle with this tail and draw up the open stitches.
Remove the cast on hem, using the long tail at the cast on to "capture" all of the open stitches. Do not draw this tight yet.
Return to the cast off end and close the seam using the cast off tail and mattress stitch. Fasten off and clip the yarn. Using the cast on tail, draw up the cast on stitches, secure the ends. Don't clip the tail yet!
Push the cast off end inside the cast on end. Straighten the seam. Use the cast on tail to tack the two layers together at the gathers. Turn up a cuff.
Make another and another.
Donate them.
The first fall that I had my USM (2001), I bought many pounds of mill ends and made about 50 of these simple caps.
Bonus: My mattress stitch got pretty darned good from all the practice.
Labels: knit recipes
Friday, October 15, 2004
Photo Finish
Much knitting was accomplished last night! And I took pictures. But my ISP is having fits (I think they called it "intermittent service interruptions.") so I could not transfer the pictures to my FTP server which means there are no pictures to post here. That's okay. They were fuzzy and out of focus anyway.
So, please close your eyes and imagine that there are bathroom mirror shots of: catbed-on-head and neckwarmer-on-neck. Because of the nature of the pojects and the quality of the pictures, you'd probably be scratching your head anyway, so go on and do that, too.
The FOs look better than the fo-tos.
See:
So, please close your eyes and imagine that there are bathroom mirror shots of: catbed-on-head and neckwarmer-on-neck. Because of the nature of the pojects and the quality of the pictures, you'd probably be scratching your head anyway, so go on and do that, too.
The FOs look better than the fo-tos.
See:
Thursday, October 14, 2004
The Candidate
Warning: little knit content, political raving ahead:
I watched the last debate last night and played Debate Bingo along with a lot of ou out there. (Google it, I'm too tired to post a link.) Didn't win. Did get 4 in a row in a lot of places, though.
Is it just me, or did it seem that the moderator was feeding W lines guaranteed to give us all "hits" on our scorecards, and that W wasn't picking them up. Are we surprised?
All in all, I don't need the polls to tell me who won. One candidate was composed and self-assured. The other bumbled through.
If the election were held tomorrow, I'd be packing (not because of the outcome, but because we leave on a short vacation a couple days later).
And so, I knitted and crocheted through the debate, and added a couple of inches to the neckwarmer, a couple inches to Finnegan's bed and 9 more squares to the afghan:
And I'll leave you with this picture that I've been dying to post. It has no reason for being here except that it's cool!
I watched the last debate last night and played Debate Bingo along with a lot of ou out there. (Google it, I'm too tired to post a link.) Didn't win. Did get 4 in a row in a lot of places, though.
Is it just me, or did it seem that the moderator was feeding W lines guaranteed to give us all "hits" on our scorecards, and that W wasn't picking them up. Are we surprised?
All in all, I don't need the polls to tell me who won. One candidate was composed and self-assured. The other bumbled through.
If the election were held tomorrow, I'd be packing (not because of the outcome, but because we leave on a short vacation a couple days later).
And so, I knitted and crocheted through the debate, and added a couple of inches to the neckwarmer, a couple inches to Finnegan's bed and 9 more squares to the afghan:
And I'll leave you with this picture that I've been dying to post. It has no reason for being here except that it's cool!
Tuesday, October 12, 2004
The Hours
Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the other half's teaching nights this semester, so I had the evening, and all of its hours, to myself, mostly (okay, I had to make dinner, but the kid and I are both nursing colds, so we had "comfort food" -- macaroni and cottage cheese, aka "Nana Noodles").
Three hours of time to myself, to be exact. Divided neatly into 1 hour segments, thus:
1 hour on the Baby Bear Poncho (no progress worth photographing. Until I get the yoke finished and the sleeves started, it's just same old, same old. But I am making progress.
1 hour on the afghan squares. I figure that I am able to connect about 12 an hour. So this first 48 (6 X 8 ) square lapghan will take me another 2 hours to assemble, then about 2-3 hours to edge. Here's what it looked like before I put it away tonight:
(Yes, I clean up my toys! Shut up!)
1 hour on a new project. This one is for Ship Support and will be a neckwarmer, in midnight blue Cleckheaton Country 8-ply superwash wool. Nice stuff to work with. Having had a kid who served "over there," I really want to support the men and women even if I can't, in my heart, support The Man. If you get my drift.
Fact is, this one willlook pretty boring while I'm working on it, and just as boring when it's finished. But it serves the purpose. Just don't expect to see it every night!
Three hours of time to myself, to be exact. Divided neatly into 1 hour segments, thus:
1 hour on the Baby Bear Poncho (no progress worth photographing. Until I get the yoke finished and the sleeves started, it's just same old, same old. But I am making progress.
1 hour on the afghan squares. I figure that I am able to connect about 12 an hour. So this first 48 (6 X 8 ) square lapghan will take me another 2 hours to assemble, then about 2-3 hours to edge. Here's what it looked like before I put it away tonight:
(Yes, I clean up my toys! Shut up!)
1 hour on a new project. This one is for Ship Support and will be a neckwarmer, in midnight blue Cleckheaton Country 8-ply superwash wool. Nice stuff to work with. Having had a kid who served "over there," I really want to support the men and women even if I can't, in my heart, support The Man. If you get my drift.
Fact is, this one willlook pretty boring while I'm working on it, and just as boring when it's finished. But it serves the purpose. Just don't expect to see it every night!
Monday, October 11, 2004
The Square Jungle
What have I gotten myself in to this time?
Why do I ask myself that question so frequently?
Why did I offer?
And here's what I got into now: Squares. Lots and lots of them!
To be pieced together into warm afghans and laprobes and (possibly) baby blankets.
Today, I was off (shut up!) so I dragged out the squares that my cyber friends at Native American Support have mailed me over the past several months. I actually put together two afghans and mailed them, oh, about 8 or nine months ago (was it really that long ago?) Anyway, I pledge to spend at least an hour a day working on these things, at least 4 days a week!
Here's what I accomplished today:
My crochet skills are rusty, so it's going to take longer than I'd like. But I will finish with these squares! And I will get the finished afghans mailed before Christmas. You saw it here!
And I made some progress on the Baby Bear Poncho:
I was right. Once the pattern was established, it's moving right along. Sorry about the fuzzy picture. (But if you are a regular reader, you're used to that!) I took pictures with and without flash. On a white ground, on the desktop. This is the only one of many that I could tell what it is! (And I know!) But the color is better (closer) than the one I posted before.
Oh, and here's what I found at the AAUW (American Association of University Women) book sale on Saturday:
The Kids Knits is just glorious!! I suspect I'll be showing off inside pages and making several of these adorable garments. Very classy. Classic. And the other two aren't chopped liver either!
Oh, andthere was a 4th. But it's going away soon (it's a duplicate of one I already have). With knitting instructions and vintage patterns.
I spent $11 all together and got 3 paperback novels, too.
Why do I ask myself that question so frequently?
Why did I offer?
And here's what I got into now: Squares. Lots and lots of them!
To be pieced together into warm afghans and laprobes and (possibly) baby blankets.
Today, I was off (shut up!) so I dragged out the squares that my cyber friends at Native American Support have mailed me over the past several months. I actually put together two afghans and mailed them, oh, about 8 or nine months ago (was it really that long ago?) Anyway, I pledge to spend at least an hour a day working on these things, at least 4 days a week!
Here's what I accomplished today:
My crochet skills are rusty, so it's going to take longer than I'd like. But I will finish with these squares! And I will get the finished afghans mailed before Christmas. You saw it here!
And I made some progress on the Baby Bear Poncho:
I was right. Once the pattern was established, it's moving right along. Sorry about the fuzzy picture. (But if you are a regular reader, you're used to that!) I took pictures with and without flash. On a white ground, on the desktop. This is the only one of many that I could tell what it is! (And I know!) But the color is better (closer) than the one I posted before.
Oh, and here's what I found at the AAUW (American Association of University Women) book sale on Saturday:
The Kids Knits is just glorious!! I suspect I'll be showing off inside pages and making several of these adorable garments. Very classy. Classic. And the other two aren't chopped liver either!
Oh, andthere was a 4th. But it's going away soon (it's a duplicate of one I already have). With knitting instructions and vintage patterns.
I spent $11 all together and got 3 paperback novels, too.
Sunday, October 10, 2004
Starting Over
Wool it is! I really didn't want to make this sweet sweater in acrylic. Probably forthe same reason I used cloth diapers. Paper and plastic on a baby? Yes, I'm a purist. And an Earth Mother. So shoot me!
By paying careful attention (and the judicious use of markers) I got the collar finished and I've set up the yoke. This little sweater is going to require my entire mind until the pattern is well-established, then it should be a breeze. After all, it's just a little A-line poncho--with sleeves.
Here's the re-done collar. The color is subtle, but brighter than this picture shows:
Okay, the color is lots brighter. And green, too! (Looks gray in the picture, doesn't it?)
Fall is definitely in the air here today! There's a brisk (okay, cold) breeze blowing. The leaves are turning. The sky is gray. If it were November, I'd swear those were snow clouds. Time to start the Christmas knitting!
I've cranked up my Bond (Ultimate Sweater Machine) and started "production knitting" of slippers and hats.
I really want to get started on a sweater for the younger kid (he's 25, but he's still my baby). Knowing him, he'll wear it if it's relatively lightweight, pretty simple, and a conservative (okay, I typed "dull" first) color.
Just the thing:
It's conservative, DK weight, and superwash wool. Something for everyone! Now, to find the right pattern. The color, by the way is "Anchor grey." It looks in person like it does on the screen.
And something to make my heart sing:
Catbed to felt for a friend's surviving cat (they lost their other cat earlier this year). This one's for you Finnegan! This stuff (Tahki Dazzle) is a joy to work with! Feels good on my hands, and the colors are wonderful!
Oh, and I finished the second lopi sleeve last night.
By paying careful attention (and the judicious use of markers) I got the collar finished and I've set up the yoke. This little sweater is going to require my entire mind until the pattern is well-established, then it should be a breeze. After all, it's just a little A-line poncho--with sleeves.
Here's the re-done collar. The color is subtle, but brighter than this picture shows:
Okay, the color is lots brighter. And green, too! (Looks gray in the picture, doesn't it?)
Fall is definitely in the air here today! There's a brisk (okay, cold) breeze blowing. The leaves are turning. The sky is gray. If it were November, I'd swear those were snow clouds. Time to start the Christmas knitting!
I've cranked up my Bond (Ultimate Sweater Machine) and started "production knitting" of slippers and hats.
I really want to get started on a sweater for the younger kid (he's 25, but he's still my baby). Knowing him, he'll wear it if it's relatively lightweight, pretty simple, and a conservative (okay, I typed "dull" first) color.
Just the thing:
It's conservative, DK weight, and superwash wool. Something for everyone! Now, to find the right pattern. The color, by the way is "Anchor grey." It looks in person like it does on the screen.
And something to make my heart sing:
Catbed to felt for a friend's surviving cat (they lost their other cat earlier this year). This one's for you Finnegan! This stuff (Tahki Dazzle) is a joy to work with! Feels good on my hands, and the colors are wonderful!
Oh, and I finished the second lopi sleeve last night.
Saturday, October 09, 2004
Baby It's You
I love making little things. Little hats, little sweaters, little socks. They go so fast and give me a chance to try out new yarns and new techniques without a lot of time and money invested. And I can always find a baby to wear them. If not an up close and personal baby, than a small needy person somewhere.
Ever since this
arrived in the Summer of 2001, I've wanted to make one of these. 
"A poncho with sleeves."
Thursday, I started the "boy" one (on the left) -- collar, no ruffle, in the yarn on the left (Phentex Sport in Green that I bought from YarnPusher.com for a buck a ball. Do the math: less than 3 bucks for a cute sweater). Well, I got the collar down (love the beaded edge), but the pattern of the yoke eluded me (could it have been that I was trying to follow the pattern in a moving car at dusk--I was not driving!) And I decided that the yarn really feels like what it is--plastic!
And besides, I have this beautiful washable wool in the same weight, in a lovely spruce color (yarn on the right) that my friend Rabbitch sent me earlier this week. I think it's a much better choice. Don't you? (Do the math: free yarn, more fun to work with.)
Vote:
Hell, no, use the crappy green plastic_____
Are you kidding, use the wool_____
(not a hyper-link)
Decisions of the judge (me) will be final.
Ever since this
arrived in the Summer of 2001, I've wanted to make one of these. "A poncho with sleeves."
Thursday, I started the "boy" one (on the left) -- collar, no ruffle, in the yarn on the left (Phentex Sport in Green that I bought from YarnPusher.com for a buck a ball. Do the math: less than 3 bucks for a cute sweater). Well, I got the collar down (love the beaded edge), but the pattern of the yoke eluded me (could it have been that I was trying to follow the pattern in a moving car at dusk--I was not driving!) And I decided that the yarn really feels like what it is--plastic!
And besides, I have this beautiful washable wool in the same weight, in a lovely spruce color (yarn on the right) that my friend Rabbitch sent me earlier this week. I think it's a much better choice. Don't you? (Do the math: free yarn, more fun to work with.)
Vote:
Hell, no, use the crappy green plastic_____
Are you kidding, use the wool_____
(not a hyper-link)
Decisions of the judge (me) will be final.
Friday, October 08, 2004
The Sterile Cuckoo
Very obscure movie reference this evening, no? It's the theme song, folks. Come Saturday Morning has the words, "I'm going away with my friend. We'll Saturday-spend 'til the end of the day."
I realized a couple of days ago, that I have had one non-working weekend since August. This one (and the Monday that follows) is for me (and my friend). I found the book (The Sterile Cuckoo) on the new book shelf at the library when I was in college (in the 60's). Loved it. Shared it with my "friend" (now the other half). We saw the movie together. Find the book. It's much better than the movie!
There's a book sale (AAUW) nearby that opens today. There's early fall yard work that needs doing if the weather cooperates. There's knitting, for lord's sake! I don't have to work (for money) for three whole days! I do, however, need to clean the bathrooms. (Note to self: schedule a vacation day once a month to clean the bathrooms--NOT!)
Last night, I tucked in the ends, sewed on the buttons, and declared Rambling Rows officially finished. Does it look "boy" enough?
And the mailman came. And brought more yarn:
Enough (with what I already have) for two more Lopi sweaters, including one for moi(!)
and a luscious shawl-like scarf .
I realized a couple of days ago, that I have had one non-working weekend since August. This one (and the Monday that follows) is for me (and my friend). I found the book (The Sterile Cuckoo) on the new book shelf at the library when I was in college (in the 60's). Loved it. Shared it with my "friend" (now the other half). We saw the movie together. Find the book. It's much better than the movie!
There's a book sale (AAUW) nearby that opens today. There's early fall yard work that needs doing if the weather cooperates. There's knitting, for lord's sake! I don't have to work (for money) for three whole days! I do, however, need to clean the bathrooms. (Note to self: schedule a vacation day once a month to clean the bathrooms--NOT!)
Last night, I tucked in the ends, sewed on the buttons, and declared Rambling Rows officially finished. Does it look "boy" enough?
And the mailman came. And brought more yarn:
Enough (with what I already have) for two more Lopi sweaters, including one for moi(!)
and a luscious shawl-like scarf .
Tuesday, October 05, 2004
Dumb and Dumber
They were all out on the road today. You know who they are. The folks with the bumper stickers that say I brake for no apparent reason!
Damn!
Who let them get behind the wheel in the first place? And then let them drive on the streets I have to?
Hey, dumbass! You, the one who saw me signaling to turn left and stopped. And signaled me to turn in front of you, nearly causing the guy behind you to rearend you.
You know what? There are people who are paid to direct traffic. And they ain't you!
And yes, I did flip you off! Don't do that again!
I feel a lot better now.
And so did I when I saw what the mailman brought.
All the way from Canada! Enough for 3 pairs of socks. Or maybe a little sweater. The color is called Spruce and the monitor doesn't do it justice. Thanks, Rabbitch !
The other half commented: "Ooo, more yarn! Just when we were in danger of running out!" Pay no attention to him. I don't.
I hope I'm home when the next shipment arrives! (And he isn't!)
And I got the Rambling Rows Jacket seamed. It just needs some finishing bands (i-cord, maybe), and buttons, and it's finished. See?
I'll have to use the red for edging. The aqua is almost gone. Which is fine.
I finished the first lopi sleeve, and worked a little on my cat bed. But there are no pictures.
Damn!
Who let them get behind the wheel in the first place? And then let them drive on the streets I have to?
Hey, dumbass! You, the one who saw me signaling to turn left and stopped. And signaled me to turn in front of you, nearly causing the guy behind you to rearend you.
You know what? There are people who are paid to direct traffic. And they ain't you!
And yes, I did flip you off! Don't do that again!
I feel a lot better now.
And so did I when I saw what the mailman brought.
All the way from Canada! Enough for 3 pairs of socks. Or maybe a little sweater. The color is called Spruce and the monitor doesn't do it justice. Thanks, Rabbitch !
The other half commented: "Ooo, more yarn! Just when we were in danger of running out!" Pay no attention to him. I don't.
I hope I'm home when the next shipment arrives! (And he isn't!)
And I got the Rambling Rows Jacket seamed. It just needs some finishing bands (i-cord, maybe), and buttons, and it's finished. See?
I'll have to use the red for edging. The aqua is almost gone. Which is fine.
I finished the first lopi sleeve, and worked a little on my cat bed. But there are no pictures.
Monday, October 04, 2004
Waterworld
So we took down the drop ceiling (lattice like they have at the local Olive Garden--looks pretty cool and hides the pipes without sacrificing height). Yesterday.
Twenty-four hours later, no drips. Bone dry. No water stains on the rafters. What's up with that?
So we left the 4X8 lattice panel leaning against the pool table until we get nails for the nail gun. (Yes, we do! Bought it to hang the ceiling 7 years ago. SHUT UP!) And the other half thinks that it will eventually drip with the panel missing. Not me! It's going to wait until we get the ceiling panel nailed back and all the pictures on the wall and the books back on the shelf. Then it's gonna drip. Mark my words!
I finished the main part of the Rambling Rows Jacket tonight (waiting for the ceiling to drip). Picked up the sleeves and knit them each in both colors (as opposed to Carol Anderson's suggested harlequin style of one each of the colors) in the first 6 numbers of the Fibonacci sequence (add the two preceeding numbers in the sequence to get the next number: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, and so on to infinity).
Of course, the cuff screwed up the sequence. They should have been 13 ridges to be correct. Correct for a baby gorilla, perhaps.
The 100th number in the sequence (in case you care) is 354,224,848,179,261,915,075. Imagine the size of the sweater with that stripe!
No, I did not calculate it. Even though I could have. I JFG it! And you can, too. Google is your friend.
Twenty-four hours later, no drips. Bone dry. No water stains on the rafters. What's up with that?
So we left the 4X8 lattice panel leaning against the pool table until we get nails for the nail gun. (Yes, we do! Bought it to hang the ceiling 7 years ago. SHUT UP!) And the other half thinks that it will eventually drip with the panel missing. Not me! It's going to wait until we get the ceiling panel nailed back and all the pictures on the wall and the books back on the shelf. Then it's gonna drip. Mark my words!
I finished the main part of the Rambling Rows Jacket tonight (waiting for the ceiling to drip). Picked up the sleeves and knit them each in both colors (as opposed to Carol Anderson's suggested harlequin style of one each of the colors) in the first 6 numbers of the Fibonacci sequence (add the two preceeding numbers in the sequence to get the next number: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, and so on to infinity).
Of course, the cuff screwed up the sequence. They should have been 13 ridges to be correct. Correct for a baby gorilla, perhaps.
The 100th number in the sequence (in case you care) is 354,224,848,179,261,915,075. Imagine the size of the sweater with that stripe!
No, I did not calculate it. Even though I could have. I JFG it! And you can, too. Google is your friend.
Sunday, October 03, 2004
The House that Dripped Blood
Okay, it's not blood. It's water. And not even red water. Just water. But it's dripping in the basement, and try as we might, we cannot find the source.
And I think I've mentioned that I am cheap, so you will understand why I am not willing to pay someone (a plumber) many $$$ to trace a leak to its source. Once we find out what is leaking, we'll get a pro in here to fix it. In the meantime, we'll keep a bucket in place to contain the drip, which, so far, is amounting to less than a cup a day, even allowing for evaporation and a dehumidifier in close proximety.
And on a knitting note, I'm almost to the armpit on lopi-sleeve #1. No pictures. I promised that the next photo would be body and two sleeves.
And I am making nice progress on
the Rambling Rows jacket. What you see is the back and almost half of the front.
I should finish the front tonight and maybe even pick up the first sleeve.
Buttons. Hmmmm
And I think I've mentioned that I am cheap, so you will understand why I am not willing to pay someone (a plumber) many $$$ to trace a leak to its source. Once we find out what is leaking, we'll get a pro in here to fix it. In the meantime, we'll keep a bucket in place to contain the drip, which, so far, is amounting to less than a cup a day, even allowing for evaporation and a dehumidifier in close proximety.
And on a knitting note, I'm almost to the armpit on lopi-sleeve #1. No pictures. I promised that the next photo would be body and two sleeves.
And I am making nice progress on
the Rambling Rows jacket. What you see is the back and almost half of the front.
I should finish the front tonight and maybe even pick up the first sleeve.
Buttons. Hmmmm
Saturday, October 02, 2004
Rambling Rose
Little knitting, even less laundry, and absolutely no grocery shopping happened last night because I had to work late. How depressing!
And then, I realized that I have had exactly one actual weekend since August. Not right! Not fair. (sigh) Nothing I can do about it. (even bigger sigh) And in a little more than 14 hours, our annual event will be over. The beautiful people will have gone home. And we can get back to business as usual.
In the meantime, I got some feedback about my boy sweater choices. My reader Bliss (Watch your e-mail for the address you requested.) suggested Elizabeth Zimmermann's Baby Surprise Jacket as quick and easy.
I've made several BSJs and love the pattern. (I have EZ's original, and the "revisited" pattern that was published a few years ago in Knitter's.) It just wasn't what I was looking for this time around. Maybe next one. . .
And despite the lack of time, I made a small bit of progress on Rambling Rows:
That's about 3/4 of the back. Think it's bright enough? Boy enough? Can I lend you my sunglasses?
And lopi has not been completely neglected, though I doubt that I'll be taking many more photographs until there's "something interesting" to report. Plain gray sleeves are just boring!
I'm already up to picture "3" on this sweater and I haven't even reached the elbow of the first sleeve! "4" will be the body and 2 completed sleeves joined. Maybe even a "yolk" shot!
Yep, no more lopi shots until there's something worth shooting.
And now, off to do battle.
And then, I realized that I have had exactly one actual weekend since August. Not right! Not fair. (sigh) Nothing I can do about it. (even bigger sigh) And in a little more than 14 hours, our annual event will be over. The beautiful people will have gone home. And we can get back to business as usual.
In the meantime, I got some feedback about my boy sweater choices. My reader Bliss (Watch your e-mail for the address you requested.) suggested Elizabeth Zimmermann's Baby Surprise Jacket as quick and easy.
I've made several BSJs and love the pattern. (I have EZ's original, and the "revisited" pattern that was published a few years ago in Knitter's.) It just wasn't what I was looking for this time around. Maybe next one. . .
And despite the lack of time, I made a small bit of progress on Rambling Rows:
That's about 3/4 of the back. Think it's bright enough? Boy enough? Can I lend you my sunglasses?
And lopi has not been completely neglected, though I doubt that I'll be taking many more photographs until there's "something interesting" to report. Plain gray sleeves are just boring!
I'm already up to picture "3" on this sweater and I haven't even reached the elbow of the first sleeve! "4" will be the body and 2 completed sleeves joined. Maybe even a "yolk" shot!
Yep, no more lopi shots until there's something worth shooting.
And now, off to do battle.
Friday, October 01, 2004
Something for the Boys
I got a real letter (in the mail! with a stamp! USPS) today from the wonderful folks that run the WIC (Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children) at the Cheyenne River (Sioux) Reservation in South Dakota.
They enclosed a wish list for the babies. I wasn't too surprised to see boy things at the top of the list. Girl things are so much fun to make. Even I can stand to make tiny little ruffly things (even though I wouldn't be caught dead in ruffles myself). Boy stuff, on the other hand, is just so, well, dull. Mostly.
Most moms have no problem putting a baby girl in blue. Even without lace and ruffles. But most moms would be hard pressed to dress a baby boy in pinque, even if it was the very plainest of style and the very most subtle of pinque. And don't even touch most dads' reactions to boys-in-pink!
So, boy stuff is what they need. And boy stuff is what I will produce!
Tonight, I dragged out the pattern books, booklets, magazines, and single sheets, looking for just the right challenge, because, after all, it's to be plain, and dull, and, well, boyish.
Discarded many, many patterns as too frilly, too unstylish (on a baby?? Well, sure!), just too damned dull. Finally got it down to a small few: Wonderful Wallaby, a couple of Bernat leaflets I got "free with purchase" from Smiley's, and the Rambling Rows Jacket for the family.
And the winner is: Rambling Rows. A very simple modular jacket in 3 colors (berry red, aqua, and, um, well, uh, maybe a shopping trip is in order??). But wait! There's an infant variation that uses 2 colors! I think my problem is solved!
Oh, and Elann will be having that wonderful Gjestal Naturgarn again. I am drooling over the new batch of colors: maybe some Walnut Heather, a bit of teal, some oatmeal, maybe the spruce. . .
They enclosed a wish list for the babies. I wasn't too surprised to see boy things at the top of the list. Girl things are so much fun to make. Even I can stand to make tiny little ruffly things (even though I wouldn't be caught dead in ruffles myself). Boy stuff, on the other hand, is just so, well, dull. Mostly.
Most moms have no problem putting a baby girl in blue. Even without lace and ruffles. But most moms would be hard pressed to dress a baby boy in pinque, even if it was the very plainest of style and the very most subtle of pinque. And don't even touch most dads' reactions to boys-in-pink!
So, boy stuff is what they need. And boy stuff is what I will produce!
Tonight, I dragged out the pattern books, booklets, magazines, and single sheets, looking for just the right challenge, because, after all, it's to be plain, and dull, and, well, boyish.
Discarded many, many patterns as too frilly, too unstylish (on a baby?? Well, sure!), just too damned dull. Finally got it down to a small few: Wonderful Wallaby, a couple of Bernat leaflets I got "free with purchase" from Smiley's, and the Rambling Rows Jacket for the family.
And the winner is: Rambling Rows. A very simple modular jacket in 3 colors (berry red, aqua, and, um, well, uh, maybe a shopping trip is in order??). But wait! There's an infant variation that uses 2 colors! I think my problem is solved!
Oh, and Elann will be having that wonderful Gjestal Naturgarn again. I am drooling over the new batch of colors: maybe some Walnut Heather, a bit of teal, some oatmeal, maybe the spruce. . .
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