Sheep Shots

A long, long time ago, on a planet very far away, Sheepy made this very warm hat.

Now, when I say very long ago, I mean about 35 years. And when I say very warm, I am talking double layers on the crown and 4-layers thick over the ears.

It's a perfect hat to wear while walking in the winter, or using the snow blower.

But, it's 35 years old and exhibiting some wear (especially at the color changes).



Here's the inside/reverse side.

I'm thinking that the inspiration (or more likely the pattern) was in a McCall's Needlework magazine from the 1970s. Back then, I was a blind follower.

And how is it that I can date this cap so precisely (or at least get in the circa for it)?

Note the lime green, burgundy, and cream yarn in the hat.




Now, lookie here:

The family Christmas stockings, pre-Purple Warrior Princess. The third stocking from the left is the first one I made. In 1977. To mark the birth of the PWP's daddy's first Christmas. Leftovers from that stocking and a sweater or two wound up in my hat!


And now, I am seriously due for a replacement.

Particulars:

Original: 4 stitches/inch, worsted weight ack, Bernat or Berella, most likely.

Replacement (eyes left): 5 stitches per inch Filatura Lanarota Puno  (100% alpaca), so it will be thinner (I increased to more stitches) but at least as warm (probably downright hot).

I'll be throwing in some stripes of mulberry (for sure) and cream (probably) and charcoal and black (let's see how that goes!) for the reverse side.


Here's a recipe (reverse engineered from the original):

Materials: bunch of leftover yarn that goes together (or not). Appropriate size needles (I probably used 8's or 9's on the original. I'm definitely using 6's on the remake), set of dpns and a 16" circular.

Cast on 29 stitches. Join. (do I need to spell out the part about joining not twisting??)

Increase to 87 (worsted weight) or 116 (DK weight). (Work one round, then increase by kfb in each stitch to the end of the next round. Repeat these two rounds twice more for worsted and 3 times more for DK.)

Knit forever (24"). Decrease by k2 tog all the way around, knit one round even until you are back at 29 stitches (3 decrease rounds for worsted; 4 for DK). Draw up, fasten off.  Fold double with the purl side out, tack the beginning to the end. Fold up a cuff.

Stay tuned. This may not last unworn until the fair in the late summer. If we have a repeat of last winter, I'll be wearing it by Christmas.

Labels: big people clothes, knit recipes, WIPs, yarn diet

Several years ago, I made the Other Half a most wonderful cardigan of superwash wool in a navy blue so dark as to almost be black.


Though it fit him well for the times (over-sized sweaters being all the rage), that puppy

grew
and grew
and grew
until it was no longer stylishly over-sized, but rather  ludicrously large. And styles had changed as well, so you see the problem.

Did I mention that it was an extra large? And dark, dark blue (can you say "midnight?" ). And 732 miles of seed stitch? And that it had (as superwash wool does) grown a bit (okay, a lot). The me that knits now (in 2014) knows to use smaller needles.

Beautiful wool. Wonderful pewter buttons. There was a photo but I can't find it anywhere.

Crinkly yarn

So, it was time to repurpose that sweater. First, I frogged the whole damned thing and used my trusty ball winder to make lovely cakes (about 430) of the wonderful wool. 

And I started to reknit using a go-to pattern (the Adult V-neck cardigan in Rich Designs Kids to Grown-Ups Seamless Sweaters-love this classic booklet. Use it lots!).

Again, sorry I didn't take a photo, but the reknitting with frogged yarn was not going well. It had the look and feel of a hearty boucle. Not exactly the manly look I wanted!

So I slipped the live stitches to a piece of yarn and gave the sweater-in-progress a good soak in warm water and a spin-dry in the salad spinner.

I was more pleased with the fabric once it dried and was back on the needle, so I commenced to re-hanking all those pretty little cakes of used yarn.

After a bath and hanging to dry, the resulting yarn is satisfactory.

I do wonder, though, if I might be happier in the long run if I had just trashed the original sweater (after removing the buttons, of course) and started over in something new.

Labels: big people clothes, yarn diet

Wow! Has it actually been nearly a year since I posted last?

So much for being more regular!

It's a new year and new resolutions to Be a Better Poster may or may not come to pass. In the meantime, I will post my list of 2013 FOs just to keep me honest.

adult sweater	1
afghan squares	1
bibs	8
booties	24
bowl to felt	1
cat toys	6
child sweater	10
christmas stocking	2
coasters	1
cowl	2
dishcloth/facecloth	4
dishtowel	8
hat	16
laprobe/baby blanket	6
mittens	2
napkin
pillow	1
place mats
potholder	1
preemie/baby caps	7
purse	1
runner	1
scarf	8
shawl	2
soap sack	2
socks	1
tea toter	1
teddy sweaters	1
toys/ornament	6
wristers
total	124

Not so shabby until I consider previous years. I have been tracking since 2002. This is the 10th best year (of 12). I will take into account that there are two "go to" afghans on the needles. One grows as I gain more odd balls of wool. Likely, it will never really be finished unless I declare it so. The other is a sock yarn mitered square-ghan that grows ever so slowly when I don't have anything else on the needles.

The year in reflection was a mixed one. We added the Purple Warrior Princess (Fiona Grace) to the tribe in May. Tiny Prince Original (Rowan) started school. Tiny Prince Two/Too (Conor) remains a joy to all who know him.

Retirement is looking very good and getting closer, as health issues (for the Other Half) reared their collective heads in December.At work, we are looking to make a major geographic move which I would like to see through to completion, but if it drags on. . .

Promising to be more regular on the posting! (Yes, I know I said that last year.)

Labels: current events, serious stuff, yarn diet

So much for a resolution to blog more regularly! (Well, in my mind, I thought "once a week, usually on the weekend." Reality is, "when I get to it!")

To the right is the pitiful pile of FOs since last I posted. Both are "one day wonders," a bib and a dishcloth.


The bib is mindless, but the cloth, not so much. Closeup of the pattern to the left.

It's the January Challenge Cloth for my dishcloth group and knit up into quite a pretty cloth (I'm thinking blankie or scarf, though I may poke my eyes out with pointy sticks before that happens!)

But it's done and reported and now I can move on to other things.

Both FOs are Bernat Handcrafter cotton. The bib is Batik, the cloth, off-white. Available at Smiley's.



And currently On The Needles and now large enough to warm my toes, is the current scrapghan.

It started out as a mindless project to use up odds and ends and odd balls of wool stuff. The plan was to donate it. When I decided that it would replace the well-used (and well-worn) Rambling Rows afghan that I made years ago with ack, I started stash-diving into the "good" stuff of well-aged hand-dyed yarns that I have collected as souvenirs on vacations. Then, I pulled out some single balls I got in grab bags. Yummy things like the big purple bit (that's alpaca) and the frosty rust bit at the bottom (also alpaca). It's wonderfully snuggly (or it will be) and it makes me happy just to look at it!


Current WIPs on the sofa where I sit and knit include a sweater for the Hypothetical Future Tiny Princess (the pink) and a tee/vest for me (the brown).

Labels: 13 sweaters, baby things, big people clothes, stash busting, yarn diet

I've been keeping track of my yarn usage for the last 11 years. I've been posting those totals here for at least the last six. And this year is no exception. Despite my missteps of blogging, I have actually been very productive with my fiber arts:

Labels: 12 sweaters, charity, promises, stash busting, yarn diet

 I love that song! The cadence is perfect for shuttle throwing.

Just set up the Flip with my latest scarf project. I am attempting to use some pretty nifty odd balls and grab bag finds to make pretties taht I will probably wind up giving away.

This is the latest effort.


Finished, it will be about 7" wide and (I hope) 5' or more long.The length will depend on how long the weft holds out.

Yarns I am using: top to bottom (or left to right, depending on your orientation) are the weft Lily Kool Knit, a vintage cotton that is so old there is no zip code on the address! and for the warp, Katia Blues, viscose and nylon, Berroco Glace, all viscose, and Berroco Jewel FX, viscose and metallic.

It's working up into an interestng fabric.

Using a 5-dent heddle because of the slubs and stuff in the warp. And I want it to be drapey. I am not beating the weft as tightly as I could for the same reason.

Stay tuned.

Labels: weaving, yarn diet

For the past several years (okay, since 2002-wow, that long?) I have journaled my knitting, both here and on paper and then stuck the FOs into a spreadsheet and tracked number, weight of yarn, and yardage.

This year was no different, though the numbers are (at best) disappointing. It's been a b*tch of a year, and as a result, crafting took a back seat to work (you know, the stuff that gets the bills paid) and exhaustion.

Things are looking up now, and I am hoping for some improvement on all fronts.


My "resolves" for 2012 include:

*weaving a rug (even if it's just a bath mat) and trying a new (to me) weaving technique. I have the tee shirts; I have the Rotary cutter; I have the linen rug warp. Bring it on!

*12 in 12 (sweaters) and making at least 1/4 for me!

*random acts of knitting/crafting gifting

*25 (at least) catnip mice for my favorite local animal rescue charity

*there's something about removing 10% of my body weight again this year (back to South Beach--started today) and destashing bunches. We shall see.


So, I know you've been waiting and here's what 2011 saw:

11 sweaters (I am counting 10 actual sweaters and one baby dress)

18 afghan squares for charity
1 complete full-size afghan
1 bag (woven)
2 holiday banners
10 baby bibs
9 pairs of booties
1 Christmas stocking
10 face/dishcloths
2 doilies (fair entries)
9 hats
2 baby blankets
3 pairs of mittens
2 woven napkins
1 pillow
6 woven placemats
1 felted potholder
2 baby caps
1 scarf
2 shawls
3 pairs of slippers
1 pair of socks
2 toys

That's 100 FOs all together. Better than last year (86) but the second worst year since I've started tracking. I used a total of 389 ounces of yarn (24+ pounds)--25,611 yards, or 14.5 miles (3 miles less than I drive to work each day. Maybe that should be my 2012 target--17 miles!

Labels: baby things, big people clothes, eleven sweaters, fitness, weaving, yarn diet

It's really done!



This is the latest scrapghan, made from DK weight ack. From the scrap bag.

I started on 8 stitches (4 dpns size 6) and increased 8 stitches every other round until I ran out of scraps. It goes without saying that I switched needles until I was up to my 60" Addi.

Finished size is 36" or just about the right size for cuddling a little one (and for dragging around if you happen to be a toddler).

Threw in rounds of garter and rounds of k2 tog, yo as the spirit moved me.







It's done!


I think it looks like a god's eye when it's turned this way.










.

Labels: baby things, FOs, yarn diet

My birthday (last Saturday, thanks for all the well wishes) spilled over into the week. I am blessed!



Rabbitch sent me some lovely Toe Jam sock yarn (the two hanks of blues) and a little bit of experimental Revenge to add to some I already have in the hopes that there might be enough to make something for the rapidly growing Tiny Prince of Wails.

I'm thinking hat and mittens with actual thumbs, as the Tiny Prince ain't a baby any more!

She's been at the Sock Summit, but she'll be adding to that Etsy page. If you like your socks to be unique, Rabbitworks works! Hop on over.






Ellen sent me these balls of Patons Astra that I plan to combine with some other Astra (it's a DK weight acrylic) into a pair of fair isle-cuffed socks/slippers. This gift was a bit of serendipity as I have several tiny bits of Astra, but nothing "dark for contrast."

Thanks, Ellen! I can move forward now without a trip anywhere that I might be tempted to replenish the stash (as if it needs it)!

I'll start that fair entry soon!





And here's my birthday gift to myself.

Two pounds (!) of silk/merino handpainted semi-solids. It was a genuine bargain and the price is what really got me over my yarn-buying slump.

Yes, I know that I don't need more yarn, but that's never stopped me in the past.

I love this stuff. It feels wonderful and I'm sure it will make up into many wonderful accessories.

And no. I really didn't need it, but sometimes we all need to give in to the wants.





Progress! I really concentrated on fair entries today. The little sweater is almost nearly finished. I need about 4 more cable repeats, then the cabled ribbing, about 48 more rounds, total. Yes, I am counting. I haven't timed a round, though so it hasn't reached the obsession point --yet.



The stocking is looking promising as well. There's a snowman applique that goes on the front. I'll suspend knitting on the leg long enough to make the snow-body so I can see if it's possible to shorten the thing just a tad.

Dark blue for a Christmas stocking? Wait. Really, wait! It's quite cute. You'll see.



Meanwhile, it's supposed to rain all day tomorrow. That will keep us indoors, though the lawn, oh, the lawn, hasn't been mowed in two weeks. It looks pretty bad.

And the weeds, oh, the weeds, haven't been addressed all summer.

And we will not speak about the shrubbery. At All.

Labels: birthdays, children's things, Christmas, fair entries, yarn diet

We are being held hostage by the weather. Today marks 41 straight here in eastern PA when the skies have opened and spit upon us.

Even when the sun makes its (very brief) appearance, it's still raining. Like yesterday.

We are growing webs between our toes. We are building an ark. What the heck is a cubit, anyway?

Of course, nasty weather means that no gardening is taking place. It means that a lot of Front of TV Knitting is.

Here's the latest FO--for the fair,

Pattern is was at the Interweave site. It's called Cabled Raglan Baby Sweater (well, duh!) and is knit seamless from the top down.

One small modification I made was to install a buttonhole instead of a snap as I find buttons slightly easier to fasten than snaps on newborn necklines.


Yarn is Di.ve Zenith. This one got mixed reviews from me.

Using the suggested needle size (3.5 mm) I got a wonderful cloth. It's very soft and great to touch. However (isn't there always one?) it is so loosely plied that it is extremely splitty. That means that I often left one of the (very thin) "threads" (there are 6 of them) behind and didn't notice until several rows later, causing 1) fits and 2) a need to drop the stitch back to the offending row and hook it back up with a size 3 crochet hook.

Not fun.

Fortunately, the yarn is very forgiving and (at least to my eye) the repairs don't show.

Were I choosing a washable wool DK weight yarn to buy for another project, it probably wouldn't be this one.

Were I shopping the stash? Well, 11 balls (in 4 colors) remain, so I guess I'll be seeing a bit more of this down the line.

Oh, and I plan to make a pair of bootie sandals with what's left of the pink.

Labels: current events, fair entry, yarn diet

The gummint says we should buy in order to stimulate the economy.

Buying = Good

Saving = Bad (or at least Not So Good)

And so, yesterday, I did my part. Time to discard the worn and tired summer garments and spruce up the wardrobe. People who know me well know that "sprucing" means Buying New Shirts (that don't have coffee (and other stuff) dripped down the front), mostly.

I confess that I also bought a couple of new dresses (inexpensive, knit, comfy looking) and one of them Isn't Black. Assuming that I keep the stuff after it arrives, I might blog about it. I hate clothes shopping enough to state right here for all to see, that if it fits, it stays.

I'm making good progress on the short-sleeve sweater (see earlier posts for color shots). The sleeves and back are finished, the buttons are chosen and waiting, and I am about 3" into one of the front panels. It's waist-length, so the rest should go pretty quickly.

And in other knitting knews, I have also been working on 7" squares for an afghan project (someone else will assemble).

This was a good opportunity to try out some stitch patterns from 365 Knitting Stitches a Year and other stitch books I have in the knitting library. There are textures, but there is also a bit of lace. Sampling is good. I'm trying things out for the baby blanket fair entry.

The yarn for these squares was stuff that was left over from other projects (100% acrylic) except for the green and the hot pink. They are Red Heart Classic in Artichoke and Grenadine respectively that I got at the TruValu (hardware store--and yes, I get the irony) for free because I have a frequent shopper card and I frequently shop there (for actual hardware). My $10 coupon got me 5 skeins of RH (the only yarn they carry).

Regular readers may have noticed the Lack of Yarn Purchases so far this year. I am on a yarn fast!

I will confess to dropping a hair under a Jackson ($20 US to non-US readers) at the Goodwill store a couple of weeks ago. Piggishly, I bought every scrap of yarn on the shelves (13+ pounds of it). Most was acrylic, though there were a few balls of some pretty nice hair of the mo and 2 balls of a premium white cotton and a huge whack of crochet thread that I will probably use for warp on my loom. I gave away the novelty stuff, but saved the chenille for weaving.

I don't know what possessed me. Maybe deprivation.

I promised myself that if my weight was down 10 pounds by March 31, I would allow myself a little splurge. March 1, I had lost 7 pounds. The end was in sight and the goal attainable. Then, in less than a week, WHAM, every ounce was back. What's up with that?

You don't suppose that the karma of buying all that Used Yarn zapped me, do you?

Nah!

Labels: current events, yarn diet

I just finished 2 hats for Ship Support from some stashed Red Heart Sport. Both skeins are the Same Dyelot! and yet, look at that yellow stripe in the hat on the right. Nope. It really isn't in the one on the left. There might be an occasional yellow dot, but nothing like the 3-4 stitch yellow bits in the other skein.

I checked the ball bands numerous times to be sure. Strange, no?

The difference in the width of the stripes is because Left Hat is cast on 100, Right Hat is cast on 90.

Labels: ship support, yarn diet

Because Sheila wanted to know the extent of the Stash Enhancement eXperience that I confessed in yesterday's post, I present a sampling.


So, a sampling is in the photo, but the spread sheet does not lie (and I have been knitting from these acquisitions, too!)

Here's what's new: Sort of from the left, Cherry Tree Hill Possum Lace (2), Summer Sock (3) and Orenberg Lace (just 1), Encore DK (4 each of 3 colors), and worsted (5 or so of a couple colors), Red Heart Baby Soft (3--almost a pound, they are big skeins), a bunch of Di-ve Zenith (12 balls total), Adriafil Knitcol )4 of those), and Fibranatura Baby Merino (the stuff the Growly sweater was knit from) in an array of baby shades (9 balls), some Dale Free Style (6) and Baby Ull (18), LB Magic Stripes (4 of those, planned for a sweater--Johnny at the Berroco site), Nashua Wooly Stripes (5), Rowan Magpie (10 in a very dark, dark navy--Janice gets these if I die before I can knit them up), the Puno and Ultra Alpaca for the current sweaters, and the Full Bag Lots: Elann Superwash Bamboo (seconds) in Eggplant and Cedar, and Ironstone Herb Garden (2 bags each).

Seeing the current state of the economy, I am really glad that I stocked up when I did! Otherwise, the next 5 to 10 years would be bleak indeed, knit-wise!

I am thinking that I might get rid of or use up the Online Linie Summertime. Picture of it knit up here. I have a full bag of grenadine (orangey-red) nearly full bag of marine (navy blue) and several balls of yellow.

I'll entertain suggestions in the comments.

Labels: current events, silliness, yarn diet

It's time for me to shift into panic mode again! The winter holidays approach no matter what I do to stop them, and so, I have begun the Holiday Knitting.

In our family, the "holiday" starts early with the Tiny Prince's birthday (November 16), followed quickly by The Birthday of His Dadadada (November 25). I try hard to make a Birthday Sweater for the Boy (and now his Son, the TP TM).

Fortunately, the Tiny Prince's Birthday Sweater was a fair entry, so it's done ::whew:: (Are you still here?)

I started the Older Kid's sweater a couple of days ago using the Cobblestone Pullover pattern (IK Fall 2007) by Jared Flood. I'm using Filatura Lanorota Puno (100% alpaca) in the camel heather colorway. Decided to knit the sleeves first, and I'm knitting them intermittently so that both will be finished at pretty much the same time and then I can cast on and knit the body, join the sleeves in and might actually finish in time (but don't hold your breath).

The other item in my bag basket of tricks is the Daughter-In-Law's Christmas sweater. This one's top down, a Knitting Pure and Simple cardigan (#263). I'm using Berroco Ultra Alpaca (50/50 alpaca/wool blend)in the mahogany mix colorway.

By way of yarn review: These two yarns are a pleasure to knit. Various websites assure me that alpaca is not prone to pilling (which is a relief). I have concerns about memory, though.

And on a whole different subject:


I have some plans to get healthy.

I can no longer stand the flab. I have a closet full of beautiful, serviceable clothing that will look and fit so much better with toned muscles.

So, I've started a tiny little lifting program.

Left to right: 1/2 pound ankle and wrist weights (I say, why bother?), 3 pound and 5 pound dumbbells.

I'm on the 3 pound ones now, working my way up. Will need to buy a heavier pair in a month or so.

My guide is this book that I got for 50 cents at a library book sale last spring. There's a website, too, that I discovered when I went looking for the book on-line so that I could link. Must check that out!

Anyway, this disclosure is by way of Keeping Me Honest. (You all know how that works, right?)

Keeping me honest Yarn Diet-wise: Take a look at the sidebar! (I'd be ashamed if I weren't so proud!)

Labels: big people clothes, fitness, yarn diet

Okay, cheating a bit here, but I am below 500 balls of yarn for the first time since last September.

Wish that my body weight was dropping as fast as the yarn weight ::sigh::

Labels: yarn diet

Look what I found in the yarn basket (the one full of acrylic stuff that I use for knitting for the Shop of Mom) and for the charities that want that sort of thing)!

I vaguely remember casting this sweater from f. pea's free pattern fridays site. Scroll down. This one is called Super-Natural Stripes.

I didn't use the natural fiber the pattern calls for, but rather, three shades of Red Heart.




Here's the single button.

It and the crocheted loop were all that kept this sweater from being a 2007 FO!

I made quick work of the loop. It took longer to decide on a button and to sew it on.

Everyone should have a project like this waiting in the wings. It gets the new year off to a rousing start, finishing-wise.




And here are the Baby Mocs I started last night.

Yep, they're finished, too! January 1 and I have 2 FOs under my belt already! W00T!

Okay, a quick rundown of these babies. Look at that cute little braid. That's Kristin Nicholas' way of dealing with some of the loose ends. I gotta say: I like it! Really, really like it!

The corrugated rib (the vertical red and dark at the cuff), not so much.

I have always felt sort of lukewarm on this particular color work. I am so glad that I tried it out on something tiny (6 rows, 28 stitches X 2) rather than a me-size sweater in shetland-weight wool!

That said, these mocassins are a hoot to look at and a lot more fun to knit than the Girl Scouts Slipper pattern. I see a lot of them in my (near) future. There are dozens of variations on this basic theme and none of them have to involve corrugated ribbing.

Did I mention that there's a Challenge? How could I drop that ball?

February Challenge for Cheyenne River is Heet the Feet (misspelling deliberate). The Native American Support group will be sending slippers, socks, tights, shoes, boots, booties et al to the reservation during February.

Are you a sock knitter? Do you like to make slippers?

Join the fun!

You can join the group or just knit and send. (Email me at amcmanus@ptd.net for a mailing address if you decide not to join the group.)

Okay, now Sparky says:

Do something good for a furry friend. Go here and read about her virtual (never met in real life, Phoebe's a dawg for lord's sake!) friend who is down on her luck. Toss a little something her way, please. And if you can't make a money donation, think a good thought for Phoebe and her Master.

Thanks.

Labels: baby things, charity, yarn diet

Let's start the morning off, shall we, with a parade of the UFOs:


I had intended to spend the evening (last) ringing in the new year, and finishing up at least one UFO. That one (eyes left) has been languishing since I decided in August that it would not be completed in time for competition in the 2007 fair.

Yes, it's the Mr. and Mrs. Santa, knit. All of the knitting is done. What remains is the sewing and weaving. And only on Mr. And there it sits. Really must!

Let's call it my first entry for the 2008 fair, shall we?


Next up is the Bear Claw Blankie. It's been On The Needles even longer than the Clauses.

This is really pretty and soon will be absolutely useless for the Tiny Prince of Wails. It's small. Like to tuck around a stroller- or carseat-bound not-terribly-mobile infant.

I fear that Master Rowan will be very mobile and Bound By Nothing before I finish it.

Too much work to frog. Too much snipping of yarn ends to recycle the yarn, as well. Press on. There will be other babies needing gifties.

And it can be entry #2.



Car Knitting. Long-wise garter stitch scarf. Wooly yarn, thin, size 6 needles providing suitable drape.

I think this is weaving yarn or something. I did the bleach test and about 85% of the yarn disintegrated. What was left crumbled between my fingers. Wool and nylon, perhaps? Scratchy as all get out.

I am hoping to 1) use up this yarn and 2) wash and condition it into softness.

Pray for me. I have no earthly udea where this one will end up. Hair shirt?


Last FO of 2007. For the Reservation. The ubiquitous Girl Scout Slipper (or a variation thereof). Admit it, you made these by the dozen for friends and family the first Christmas after you learned to knit.

I hate these!


And now, for something a little jazzier! Pattern I have stashed forever (got it from elann.com a bunch of years ago and decided to give it and all that yarn that Mary sent me a whirl).

The pattern suggests starting with the baby size to "get a feel for the gauge" (I am doing that). It also suggests using a wool/mohair blend (Classic Elite Tapestry--I am not doing that).

I still need to do cuffs to finish these off. I think they are kind of sweet!

I'm using a combination of acrylic yarns: the purple is Caron Sayelle, the red is Patons Canadiana, the others are Red Heart. I'm using size 4 dpns for a firm fabric.



And Now For The Resolutions: I have dubbed my personal Yarn Control System "One in, 2 out" because, folks, my yarn habit is Out Of Control. I ended 2007 with slightly less yarn than I started (that's the yarn I acknowledge--the stuff I acquire for "community" knitting isn't counted in there).

In a private conversation about "stash dieting," a friend pointed out something to me that I hadn't really considered before (okay, I had, but she put it into words better than I): "If we buy food and then just let it rot so that the grocery stores will stay in business, it's false economics. Nobody would think of doing that." (Well, actually, I knew someone once who did that. When he died, there was so much food in his house that it was shameful. And yes, it was donated, but some of it was so old that it should have been thrown away years before--but I digress. Besides, I don't think he was trying to keep BJ's in business. He just liked to shop. And hoard food.)

To each her own as far as yarn buying goes.

I, personally, will be bit more conservative in my yarn buying. I will continue to be ultra-liberal in my politics, however.

I'd like to get my stash confined to the cubes I have (and maybe the 3 more that I still have to assemble).

I'd like to knit up (enjoy, IOW) the wonderful yarns I already have stashed.

I'd like to share (i.e. give away, donate, sell) the yarns that I no longer consider wonderful.

And I'd like to lose 25 pounds.

None of these resolutions will come easy.

I absolutely will attempt entrelac this year. I possibly might try spinning.

Labels: baby things, big people clothes, charity, fair entries, yarn diet

The projects are tallied and it's official! This was a banner year for yarn useage (even if the yarn tally over there ===> doesn't reflect it.)

In 2007, I completed 245 projects (many were quite small), and knit up 27.77 miles of yarn (46.92 pounds of the fuzzy stuff!) which is the equivalent of 429 50 gram balls! Wow!

Here's what all that yarnie goodness became:
1 adult sweater
54 hats
4 scarves
6 baby hats
3 afghans
23 children's sweaters
8 pairs of booties and children's socks
1 shawl
57 face/discloths
14 pairs of mittens
2 Christmas stockings
37 afghan squares
12 toys
1 teddy bear sweater
1 baby dress
3 Christmas decorations
2 egg cozies
2 purses
2 dog/cat sweaters
1 cat mat

Amazing!

I think I'll go to bed now.

You wanna see pictures? Scroll through the old posts!

Labels: kfys 2007, yarn diet

Was there a yarn diet? My friend Mary was clearing out her yarn stash and sent me this huge honkin' box of stuff. I am overwhelmed and honored!

I lost count at 50. (Not true, there are 78.)

Can you see the mittens and hats!? And baby sweaters and such? All for NOLA and the Reservation and other causes as arise. Most of it is machine wash and dry, so perfect for the causes I knit for.

Mary, you're the best!

Labels: yarn diet

There! That ought to catch the attention of the search engines!

This is not a long scientific paper on the value of Rapid Eye Movement (sleep), but rather a short discussion of the syptoms the lack thereof produces in one individual--me.

For the past week or so, I've been waking up about every hour for no apparent reason. Clearly, I am not getting in the dream time I need! And I'm here to tell you that I am dragging!

I managed to sleep about 6 hours last night, waking only once that I remember. Maybe things have turned. (I can only hope!)



I realized yesterday that it's been a while since I posted a photo of the current UFOs. That might be because I have been (mostly) serially monogamous all the while knitting for the up-coming Grand Entrance (soon, very soon!) and so, except for the two projects whimpering over there in the corner, there haven't been a lot of UFOs to speak about.

That's changed, too.


When I dragged them out, I noticed that the pile had grown somewhat! For your viewing pleasure (left to right): the reknit sweater front, the scrapghan and a baby sweater in shades of blue (yes, I really am going to stockpile a few!), the current red/white/blue afghan square, Mrs. Santa (finished) in the basket with Mr. Santa (unfinished), soon-to-be first completed entry for Fair 2008, and the Bear Claw Blanket (not even 1/2 finished).

Labels: current events, yarn diet