knitzanity

Knitting....but quietly

2009-01-21T19:40:00.003-05:00

I know I am a very private person, and having a public/social job (sitting on a reference or circulation desk all day) I can be a bit peopled-out by the end of my shift. I don't want to talk or share or engage--its time to crawl in a hole and recharge! Maybe knit, maybe work a room escape game (darn you Jay is Games for the great game ideas!) or even try to go to bed before 12.

So now the blog is in the "its too much effort to be social" category. Sorry!

I still have love for the yarn. I am back to cranking out socks after a short hiatus. Nearly done: Anastasia socks in STR Mediumweight, Dutch Canyon. They are lovely; for the nearly first time with STR I am not getting pooling or flashing in the sock, just short bursts of color. Strangely enough, one sock did pool (but consistently, and it worked with the YOs.) The other is not pooling at all. Odd. And LOVELY.

Just begun: Firestarter with YarnAhoy's Sweethearts. This is a lovely dye job by friend and fiber artist Manasi, who now it seems has dropped out of the yarn business to pursue photography and other artistic ventures. I wish now I had bought more of her yarn! My favorite pair of socks were made from her yarn; they are a simple lovely BRIGHT green with gentle stripes of greens in them. The yarn is strong and they fit perfectly. Firestarter looks fantastic in this yarn.

Shocking as well; I am doing these toe up, magic loop on Addis! These are three things I have almost never done in socking. I do not like the way the metals scrape together, so I never knit with metal needles. I find toe-up frustrating, and was never happy with my short-row heels. Plus, Addis? No point!

But after I forced myself to learn Judy's Magic Cast On, and then had a somewhat successful heel on the Anastasia socks, I decided I could try toe up again. Plus, how better to beat the "more of the same sock" blues than to change it all up again.

It worked!

I finished the Gathered Pullover from IK and it looks great; I wear it all the time (alpaca is warm.) I have only enough yarn for one more sweater in the stash--Silky Wool. Hoping that the new IK will have a lovely light sweater for that yarn.

Or....I'll just have to buy some yarn! Awful.

SHOCKING!

2008-10-22T19:08:00.007-04:00

I cannot believe I have not posted since JULY. Criminal.

I did loads of stuff!

I made a vest for a 12 year old boy for Afghans for Afghans. I used leftover/stash Patons Classic and Cascade 220--it turned out great! The Yarn Lounge was doing a single large shipment so I dropped it off there.

I made some booties for a new baby.

I bought loads of Harry Potter yarn and started socking right away. These have a random traveling cable that I really love. Go Tonks!

I finished one sock for FaveSpouse--random traveling cables again--and started another.

I have been working on the sleeve to the Braided Pullover from Fall IK; I am having difficulty purling in the round. For the first time in my life I am getting LADDERS! Ugh.

I think I will have to rip. But as EZ says, "Knit on!"

Knitting.....

2008-07-14T19:49:00.002-04:00

I finished one of those itchy projects last night--one of those projects that you do not really like working on, but that you slog onward for other reasons. It must be finished! The itch to complete must be scratched! even if it bleeds.

I have some mixed issues with my stash. I like having a choice of things to work on next, and a stockpile of yarn for lean times (whether it is lean in $$$ or lean on time for yarn shopping.) BUT I do not like the feeling of being obligated or bound by my yarn, or tied to past choices. Sometimes I chose the wrong yarn, or I just do not want to knit the object any more. And then the stash becomes the stash of OBLIGATION. The stash that must be knit before I get to the good stuff.

This itch appears periodically, the itch to git 'er knitted, to finish up some part of the yarn collection. I recently knitted a huge grocery bag (raveled here) that ate most of 8 skeins of Cascade 220 but that was not enough. Must knit more!

So I took the Hemp (raveled here) that I had bought at MDS&W in 2006 and made a Moderne Rug. Its based loosely on Mason Dixon's Moderne Blanket, though I just used the log cabin technique, made it asymmetrical, and alternated different colors for variety. It looks homey but good. I am very glad I never tried to make a sweater from this; it is super scratchy and full of knots. But as a rug it can have a life and be free of the stash.

And mentally I can also be free. Except I may still be itching. What will I scratch next?

WWKIP Day!!

2008-06-16T22:34:00.000-04:00

The Yarn Lounge hosted World-Wide Knit In Public Day--and I actually got out of the house! Sis watched the crew (I had done the same for her in the morning) and I had a couple of hours to be a non-lonely, in person knitter!

First I saw Susan, who I knew from my petsitting days (hey Spike!) and now Ravelry. She was bravely knitting in the sun on the sidewalk. Brave move in the heat.

Then I walked in to see the Happy Stasher herself knitting furiously and deciding what to stash next. Green or blue? Organic cotton or Cotton Fleece? Lou is to yarn as Jesus is to The Little Children--she loves them all. "Come to Lou, little skeins! You all have a happy, safe home in my stash! I will protect you and love you--come to mama! "Lou is acually adding a stash room--an entire attic craft room--to her house. I have seen it in person and it is beautiful. It will have shelving and closets and workspaces for knitting and scrapbooking. When it is complete I have promised to help Lou organize and catalog it all--I want to enter the whole thing on Ravelry. She is going to need a Flickr Pro account.

Lou's stash is certainly a stash that would bring smaller collections (like my own) to its knees, begging for mercy! Truly the mega-stash. Monster Stash.

I had a discussion with a recent JMU grad (Becky?) about her HUGE yarn score of high quality wholesale yarn from the fiber studio at JMU. Fabulous!

I met Brandy, author of The Purl Parables, in real life. Tell me, what is the ettiquitte for meeting online friends in person without being a stalker? As in--love the blog, the shawl was amazing (so true! check it out!) I've commented a few times, how are you? In classic Me style, I said nothing. I am so rude. Its not intentional, I'm just so clueless.

At The Yarn Lounge I did some browsing; I had brought in enough food to qualify for a discount (bring in 5 things for the food bank and get a 10% discount! good idea). I am really trying to knit creatively from the stash right now....and I have been struggling with what to knit next. My RavQ is full but nothing is dying to be made. Maybe all of my serial knitting (socks, BSJ) has killed my creative spirit. I am still making the same patterns over and over.

I have swatched for a top down cardigan; I've never knitted my own design before. I like the same styles over and over, and my body shape does not change so I know what suits me (and what doesn't). I am hoping a top down in SOCK YARN will work, set in sleeves, knitted on larger needles to make 4-5 stitches/inch, like Tempest. The Ellen's Half-Pint looks really good in the swatch....

The Lone Knitter

2008-06-09T20:04:00.005-04:00

I noticed today that I have knitted alone (but rarely lonely!) for more than a month now. Maryland was my last outing with the sticks...but what an outing it was. I work in the library of a local community college and my shifts include two weeknights and some weekends; these erases some nights of knitting in public for me as well. But I continue to knit, me, the TiVO and Doctor Who.

I finished a pair of socks for FaveSpouse and I am now at the end of the Noni Green Earth Grocery Bag with just a part of the handles to complete. A flower washcloth is in the works for BoyWonder's teacher; my Charlotte Shawl is stalled.

BUT I have also been doing a bit of sewing. Sewing is kinda fun when it goes well--and I love using my vintage machine (my mom made her maternity clothes on it when she was pregnant with me!) but my skill is pitiful and I often get frustrated. Still, you can make an item in a few hours, or an afternoon....try that instant gratification with knitting! In an afternoon all you can make is a dishcloth, or a flower pin.

Sunday I made myself a pair of pajama pants--I love them! They are short--like capris-- and very light, perfect for summer (and for impending Cub Scout Camp) and I hope to make more of this pattern. I always need pajamas--as do my family! and the pattern is multisized, from teens to adults. I have been to both of the Local Quilting Shops (that I can find) and the one I gave a chunk of money to was Quilting Adventures. I bought the patterns, notions and fabric for the pants, one little girl dress and a baby quilt. Whoa! They have a blog and a website, and have been very helpful. My dad's girlfriend (a quilter) suggested them.

BUT I am not yet going to the dark side....!

A tale wherein our knitters nearly get stranded, but conquer failing technology and reach the emerald city of YARN!

2008-05-21T21:57:00.007-04:00

The day dawned brightly on our three knitters as the set out...... enough of that silliness!

MDS&W was a MONTH AGO and I have not posted my fun pictures. As you might imagine, the trip was FUN and VERY INSPIRING. The three of us, Melanie Lou and myself all set out on Friday, packed easily into Lou's Subaru, which was outfitted for bad weather and knitting. First, the a/c went out, then the temperature started climbing. We pulled off before it made it to the red and the mechanic said--Don't drive it! And he suggested a friendly car vendor down the road.....

...who were able to outfit us with a red yarn-buying transport machine!
We set off again to the north and made it safely, but hungry. We took care of that problem....

We met new friends and old, and I even connected IRL with internet friend Jane.

And took a stalker-like picture of the Rainey Sisters (I love their blog and their knitting is GORGEOUS!)

We bought loads of yarn. This trio could be on Sesame Street.....which one is bigger?

Melanie's targeted stash of beauty.....

Suzanne's stash for a rainy day....

Or Lou's purchases which can be seen from SPACE! (Lou and I actually had to stand on chairs to photograph the full beauty....it completely covered the BED!)

We went to the Ravelry party and I ran into a friend who I have not seen for 10 years (at least!) Susan has always been a knitter, but she picked it up again recently. Cheese!

I really do still knit.....

2008-04-09T11:11:00.004-04:00

...I just don't blog about it!

I have been on a serial-knitting spree, knitting the same items over and over. I am now on my 15th sock of 2008 (mostly simple patterns) and have just finished my fourth (4th!) Baby Surprise Jacket of 2008.
This one is for a mum I have never met! But she is also a crafter (she quilts) and will understand it.

All of the BSJs have been in either Louet Gems Sport (good yarn for this, machine wash and dry) OR Dream in Color Smooshy (also superwash.) The skein of Smooshy made one jacket PLUS about 2/3 of this one, combined with the Louet Gems. Great value and really lovely.

A shot of the mandatory tag...
One BSJ was sent to friends in Edinburgh who just had their first child; another went to a cousin who had their 3rd--this one a girl! For her I knitted the jacket in white and pink, wrote out her entire name on the tag (Rachel Rose) and knitted and attached a rose to the lapel. I did not get to go to the shower but I heard it was a huge hit.

One jacket is going to my SIL, who is due in May. Her husband has been going through chemo, and they have a super-active 3 year old, and she works outside the home, and the hospital is two hours away........her life is very stressful now. I hope the jacket brings some small measure of happiness. We all need a bit of happiness.

Great success!

2008-03-07T14:00:00.004-05:00

The Tangled Yoke Cardigan was a great success. The fit is perfect, the color perfect, execution pretty good (I cannot see my mistakes but I have not gone looking for them. This is by far the most wearable SWEATER I have knitted. Hooray!Details: Tangled Yoke Cardigan, Interweave Knits
Felted Tweed, 7 Balls purchased at Knitting Sisters while on vacation
#3 needles for body, size #0 for the button bands
August 2007-January 2008
Mismatched (though all black) vintage buttons from button jar

I would actually knit this again. The fit is so good, and it was fun to make. Plus, it has loads of "knitterly" details like the long ribbing on the arms and body, the fantastic cabled yoke, and the mismatched buttons. The pattern is very classic and will be current for many years.

More news:
I have 5 friends/family who are having (or have had) babies this year. I am planning to knit Baby Surprise Jackets for most of them....unless I get very sick of this pattern. Its so cute and fun to make; I think I can crank out at least 4.

This is the first, meant for friends in Edinburgh, who had a girl before Christmas. I have not yet put her tag/name into it--I love the custom tag in handknits.

Details:
Partial balls of Louet Gems Sport which is SUPERWASH!) of white, purple and yellow.
Pattern from The Opinionated Knitter
Yarn from The Yarn Lounge
Mismatched (but all white) buttons from the vintage button jar.

The socks keep marching.....

2008-02-06T20:18:00.000-05:00

The Weekly Sock Project is going very well...I am on the foot of my 8th sock and it is only Week 5. I am nearly 3 weeks ahead! and as I promised myself, I need to work on more complicated socks OR on different projects now that my "work" is out of the way.

I have a serious baby knitting debt that I need to work on....I have four (FOUR) babies that have been born or are expected in the next few months, three girls and one unknown. I have loads of pink Cascade 220 in the stash, but these are not knitting moms who understand handwashing.

I need machine washable wool!

I would like to knit Baby Surprise Jackets for them....part of me wants to knit a Moderne Log Cabin Baby Blanket but another part of me says that blankets are not really appreciated and are not thrilling to open.

A cuteness/wow factor poll: Which is the winner?

-Baby Surprise Jacket/Sweater
-Blanket
-Hat/Booties
-Three baby socks and Target gift card

Melanie just finished a charity blanket and gifted it to the YWCA.....maybe I can scratch my need to knit Log Cabin by stashbusting on that.....?

WOW! and she is a crafter too....

2008-01-19T11:05:00.001-05:00

I just watched this funny presentation by Erin McKean about words....she is a dictionary editor, a blogger, a mom AND a sewer! The presentation is funny (traffic cop v. fisherman) but long, so feel free to SKIP IT!

I have been trying to remake my presentations for library instruction this week and love how she did her talk--no words, only pictures, and lots of humor. This may not crossover to "How to use the library" directly, but I am going to try.

I have also been thinking about blended librarianship, about instruction and web and new tech as it applies to library work. AND about how libraries and librarians have a bad reputation, just like dictionaries. How can we continue to change that? Don't make me shush you!

Beginning of third week of WeSoP: Three socks done

2008-01-15T06:10:00.000-05:00

If I do not lose my sock mojo, the goal of 18 socks looks pretty do-able from here. I am nearly done with sock #4 and we are barely into the 3rd week. AND this is a mansock, though a simple one. Mansocks take ages.

Last night I finished the gusset decreases; its only the race to the toe now. I have to take my dad for oral surgery today, so I should get at least an hour in at the dentist.

I have a Second Monkey sock on the needles now--I'm still on the picot hem--and I may work on that one next. BUT I am also looking at my copy of the Thelonious pattern.....will I be able to knit it in a week or so? probably. And I do have a backup of a sock, so I really have two weeks. Will I enjoy knitting it if it takes awhile? or should I make another kid anklet to give me more "insurance"?

The joy of options!

First week--one a most of a second DONE!

2008-01-07T20:30:00.001-05:00

My first week's progress....this was the pair on Monday morning. I am ahead of my goal! I began the first sock on Monday and started the second sock on Friday.

Only 16 socks to go! Maybe I will get a bit ahead and then work on a harder pattern (or a bigger sock. There are some man-socks that have been promised

I have decided in Ravelry to list each sock as a single--so a completed sock shows as 100%, rather than a pair showing as a completed sock. We don't need pairs, we need single socks!

I am REALLY loving the Noro here, more than I have ever loved Noro before. The thick and thin is interesting, rather than distracting. The texture is pleasantly rough, feels like an honest wool (and I hope it will wear like honest wool!) The colors develop wonderfully, but do not HURT each other like the stripes do in a larger garment. The socks work as a pair...and I think I could combine two SINGLE noro colorways to make a pair as well.

In fact, I am loving the Noro so much I make take to the edge and keep knitting with the ball--BoyWonder likes the colors and has already requested socks from this yarn. So I may start his sock right away. The ball has 450+, but I am unlikely to get 2 kid socks out of it. Maybe HE can be the first to wear planned mismatches--there will certainly be more Noro in my near future. I bought 4 balls from The Loopy Ewe so I had better feel the love.....

The Weekly Sock Project (WeSoP)

2008-01-01T14:14:00.000-05:00

January is a time for looking back and forward, for taking stock of the past and for planning for the future. This is important; to learn one must somehow look forward and backward, revisit success and failure, and hope to learn from each. Many resolve to diet, quit smoking or save more money. Knitters resolve to buy less (or more) yarn, tackle more (or less) projects and learn from all.

I resolve to knit a sock a week.

From now until Maryland Sheep and Wool (May 3-4) I will knit a sock a week. This is 18 weeks, so I should produce 9 pairs of socks from now until May 3. All socks count--including kid ones (my children's feet are nearly adult size already.) Two baby socks will count as one adult sock (they have 24 stitches, so that is fair).

WeSoP Project is not just about garment production; its the celebration of the daily knit. The everyday, ordinary projects that keep us entertained waiting for the dentist or at a kid's soccer practice. The everyday projects that we wear (and wear out) every day.

WeSoP is also a celebration of the creativity of the stash. In theory sock yarns don't count as stash...they are simple, contained projects, they can be started at any time with little planning, they pack small in a purse or tote. Sock yarn is always ready and waiting for the knitter. BUT even sock yarn can be too much. Remembrance of Projects past......all those skeins waiting to be knitted can hold back the knitter who is trying to knit for TODAY. Creativity grows when options are limited...limit yourself to the current stash and see what develops.

Onward! for today, WeSoP!

(I just created a Ravelry group for the WeSoP so you can WeSoP with me! Search on Weekly Sock Project.)

I think I might be almost done.....

2007-12-03T11:05:00.000-05:00

Well.....i turned in my soul-sucking project today (about 20 minutes ago) and now I have only bits and pieces, small presentations and emails and things to clean up before school is OVER for me. Over.

Two and a half years of spending MOST of my non-knitting free time, every Sunday, every weeknight and a lot of my waking moments thinking about school.

I know I should be focused on the good parts, the new free time, the accomplishment of going back to school while working and taking care of small children. But I feel....sad! at loose ends! grumpy! This must be why people do graduations and things like that, its a way to stay busy and UP during times of transition. (I am not going to graduation; its 1000 miles away and for me to drag myself and FaveSpouse and the kids would be very expensive. And all for what? I am not a ceremony girl anyway. My wedding had 2 guests; I skipped my undergrad graduation.)

Enough with the pity party. I knew this would happen--school would end with a whimper rather than with a BANG!

I've been knitting; I am working on my new Harry Potter socks and making a few fingerless gloves for gifts. I've reached the yoke on the Tangled Yoke cardigan. I finished some kid and adult socks.

This time next week it will be all over; only thing to do then is wait for my grades and my diploma to arrive in the mail. AND to think about my REWARD YARN!

The stash is loaded....

2007-11-04T07:18:00.000-05:00

I finished this week putting my stash on Ravelry! (If you want to peruse, I'm Knitzanity.)

I know I should have been working on school, but I have been feeling yucky, with a low grade fever, and I knew no good work would be done. I cut my losses and started photographing!

I was very honest with myself, and did photograph everything that is intact. I did not count the half balls (which themselves fill about 1/2 a tub!) but I did count all leftovers. 34 Balls! Not too bad. 10 of them are "official" sock yarn, which is great since I knit about a pair a month. I say that's a lean, fighting sock stash--especially since I am nearly done with school and I will have more time to knit--and PLAY WITH THE KIDS! So I anticipate an huge upswing in production.

I decided to pass on the STR Club. Even for me it seems like a huge expense. Plus, I would get tired of knitting with the same stuff all the time--as good as it is. I did rejoin the Sunshine Yarns Harry Potter sock club--the colorways just blew me away. So creative and unexpected!

I have just 4-5 weeks to go on school. My last project is due on December 10; I hope to be done sooner! Cross the fingers.....!

Another FO--and this may be the best one yet!

2007-09-02T18:56:00.000-04:00

Kate Gilbert is now the Official Knitzanity Designer (OKD). I love her designs--they are classic, but current, and interesting to knit--and they FIT! So either I am getting to be a better knitter and choosing the right size for myself, or her patterns are carefully written, accurately sized, and realistically gauged! Maybe a bit of both.

My Kate Gilbert History:

1. Clapotis. My favorite knitted garment for many years. Fun to knit (at the time, somewhat challenging, my first baby-lace pattern) and lovely to wear. I still wear it almost daily and I have made 3 modified versions of the pattern since. Love.

2. Sunrise Circle Jacket. Love. Have not worn--I finished it in June! But the fit is great and it is flattering. A real winner.
3. Slanted Neck Pullover. LOVE! It hugs the curves in the right way and the neckline rocks!Its classic yet still fun to knit. It has all of the style and fit and professionalism of a bought garment, yet it has fun-to-knit details that make it special--and worth making it yourself. Simple things--the way the hems are shaped, the way the side ribbing increases in each row, the way the neckline is constructed. NO ONE will ask if this is homemade--and it was SOOOO worth knitting. And the Classic Elite Wool Bam Boo was fabulous to knit with-springy, soft and shiny.

Socks have arrived!

2007-08-27T23:56:00.000-04:00

My sock package arrived right on schedule and I am totally thrilled! Even though it was late at night, we had to open the package and get to the good stuff RIGHT AWAY. And the kids rarely get to open packages, so they were right there with me. Boy wonder liked the way it smelled.....mmmmm.....yarn......

Socks! Super pink! My favorite! and Girlpants favorite too. But there was more....

Monkeys! I call the kids monkeys all the time. They are crazy. This is a small drawstring project bag--I have used it and used it already. Its a great size and the stretchy drawstring is great on my wrist.

Yarn to hug! Who needs a teddy when you have pink yarn? This is pink Mama-Es Cyberbfiber. I love it!

Isobel also included a few tubes of Soak, some fabby stitchmarkers (already in use) and a REAL knitcounter bracelet. Amazing! I am so spoiled.

My sockpal is Isobel from http://knitlesstolife.blogspot.com. Thank you Isobel!

Back!

2007-07-14T13:16:00.000-04:00

We have returned from our holiday....I did some knitting, but not as much as I expected to do. FaveSpouse's sister got married and we did a 24-hour tour of Edinburgh to see friends. A few highlights:Me with a real police box! Or is it a tardis.....
Here I am in front of The Elephant House. This is the cafe where J.K. Rowling wrote the first chapters of the Harry Potter series.

Here is the fam in front of a wind farm in Wexford. There are about 30 windmills on two adjoining sites. They are HUGE! and usually silent. They add a very Teletubbie element to the landscape. Girlpants is holding The Loopy Ewe--we took Loopy on vacation too! I did finish one pair of socks, and I am cranking on my current Clapotis. It is going VERY slowly.

Argh! as we sail away....

2007-06-22T07:38:00.000-04:00

Last weekend we went on a Pirate Adventure in Annapolis, MD. Its for the kids--they get to be pirates, find treasure, and sail in a pirate ship and be part of the pirate action. It was fun and really well done. Here is BoyWonder raising the pirate flag! The kids also got to douse the rogue pirates with the water cannons, read the message in the bottle and drink grog. Good times!

I got my package from The Loopy Ewe before we went....delivery in only 2 days! I ordered some tiny sock charms/blockers (buddy Lou has one which I LOVE!) For these you make a tiny sock and it lives on your keychain. Good times.

I also got one set of sock yarn for my sock pal, and one for me!

This is Tainted Love from Stone Barn Fibers. I have already started Jaywalkers with it; the color repeats are very short, so it has a nice EVEN variegation which I love. Short random blasts of color. They are easily as bright as this picture. The yarn is soft with a tight twist like Koigu. I will definitely buy this brand again. My Sockpal is getting a pastel colorway of Claudia's, which I know she will like.

I also signed up for the Harry Potter Sock Club from Sunshine Yarns! I have used Dani's yarn before and it is lovely. But the HP stuff sells out so fast! In the club there will be 2 dragon/animal/place colorways and on skein of the house colors of your choice. This is my first sock club!

We are going on our annual Ireland vacation tomorrow; Paul's sis is getting married and we are going to visit everyone as well. We have 4 corners of the country to visit and may squeeze in some sightseeing as well, or at least a few nature walks. This will be the first time in 7 years I have not had to take a stroller. Freedom!

We are even going to Edinburgh to see some college friends for a quick break without kids. There will be drink taken.....!

Done! I do like to finish before a deadline......

2007-06-10T22:29:00.000-04:00

I finished the Sockpalooza 4 socks last week. They do not go out until August, so I am well before the deadline. I LOVE this yarn--I used Claudia's Hand Paint, which I found at The Knitting Basket (I used a gift certificate I had from my birthday.) I remember Mary buying this yarn at MDS&W, but I had never purchased or knitted with it. Its LOVELY! The colors give loads of trued variegation (its different on every row, and the stitches really stand out) and the yarn is tough but very, very soft. I loved knitting with this yarn.

The colors are NOT my style (I like screaming brights; pastel neutrals make me look like I just died) but my pal said she likes neutrals, and there are loads of neutrals on her blog. And these socks are not just beige, there are loads of subtle changes and gentle yellows in them. It reminds me of buttered toast, one of my favorite foods.

Specs:
Began May 2007, finished June 2007
2 skeins Claudia's Hand Painted in Butter Pecan
Monkey Pattern from Knitty
Size 1 needles

I'm in!

2007-06-09T08:20:00.000-04:00

I received my invite this morning!

http://www.ravelry.com/

and this is addictive! It appeals to the librarian inside me--I've been adding current projects the last hour.

SO COOL! mySpace for yarn!

Rememberance of Projects Past

2007-06-07T10:31:00.000-04:00

Though the blog has been silent, I have been knitting. Unfortunately, I often get stuck in projects, or stall in the finishing stages. While I was stalled on the Sunrise Circle Jacket, I did a bit of charity knitting to ease the slump.

There are differing theories on UFO management. What do you do when you get stuck on a project? Some knitters work on only a few projects (or one) at a time, and they bulldoze through all problems on that one project. Many knitters work on multiple items, finishing steadily but slowly. And many of us have startitis, embarking on new projects as the will strikes.

I will say that I have done all of these. I like to have a portable, easy project for carrying around, and then more exciting ones for home. I like to knit for myself and for others. I often have to put a project in time out because it is not working, and I have to decide what to do with it. Maybe there is a mistake that requires ripping, or maybe its just not feeling right. Sometimes I have 6+ items on the needles; more often I have 3. Knitter's choice!

Sometimes you just lose your knitting mojo a bit. Everything seems grey and pointless. When the existential bug bites, its time to hit the charity knitting. Dig in the stash and make something good out of those bad feelings and past failed projects. Even if it does not lift the mood, you have done SOMETHING.

Charity Project 1:
Afghans for Afghans
Baby Blanket
Basketweave baby pattern from Yarn Girls Guide to Kid Knits, yarn held double
Dale Sisik from Holly Spring Homespun
14+ balls? used
Denise 13s
This had been my most horrific finished sweater. I had made the cover wrap cardigan from IK Winter 2005 in this yarn, tried it on, and immediately ripped it. Hairy gorilla indeed! It had been re-balled and was marinating in the stash. Every time I looked at it I felt that horrible failure.....when an item had only bad memories, its gotta go! The yarn was good quality and thick and Afghans for Afghans was looking for baby blankets. I knitted until the yarn ran out. I hope it will bring some family a small amount of joy.

Charity Project 2:
Loopy Ewe Quarterly Challenge
Fruit hat pattern by Ann Norling
Stash Peaches and Cream
Clover Bamboo #4 circs and DPNs

This was one of the first projects I ever made and its still a favorite pattern. They are SO CUTE! I have made many of these, maybe 25 or more. They are quick and interesting. These were sent to The Loopy Ewe for their quarterly challenge (baby hats.)

I love Sheri's blog at the Loopy Ewe....and I have yet to order! I fall in love with their yarn on a nearly weekly basis (love the sneak ups) but I have not yet ordered. What is wrong with me? Its the stash management thing I guess--I like to buy when I am ready to start a project. I feel weighed down by past decisions and stash, instead of inspired. But one day I will! If you have not checked them out, Sheri carries LOTS of cult yarn and small dyers, plus famous quality sock yarns like Lorna's Laces, Claudia's Hand Painted and Fleece Artist. AND they carry Scarlet Fleece, our own local famous dyemaster!

How do YOU get your knitting mojo back? How many UFOs do YOU have in time out?

(I will confess, I have one in time out. The hems were not working. More later.)

Sucess! My first unqualified success!

2007-06-03T20:50:00.001-04:00

I did it! (Begin Dora the Explorer dance NOW!!!!)

The Sunrise Circle Jacket is my first unqualified sweater success! The fit is perfect, the knitting was fun (though sewing all those hems was a bit tedious!) and the design is something you could never buy in the store. Its what hand knits are all about!

Back story: I bought the yarn in December at Holly Spring Homespun (or maybe January?) and worked on it steadily until I completed the body. I remember asking Melanie if it was too....hairy gorilla (it is brown and a bit fiber-y) in January. I know she said "no way! " I was prepared to abandon the project way back then.

It stalled in mid-semester (last semester was a tough one) and the sleeves languished on the needles for weeks. I finished them finally, but then the finishing waited, and waited, and waited. I don't like to finish, and I am rarely energetic enough during the week to tackle even a small amount of finishing. My Sundays were full of family obligations (they are the one quieter day) and I only squeezed in a bit of sewing here and there. And THE HEMS! This sweater gets much of its shape and definition from its hems (all sides, sleeves, collar, everything) but tacking miles of hem cleanly and neatly can be tedious. I finally did it in front of the TV and it flew.

I had thought the sleeves would be much too long (they had been on the KAL) and that the body would be too long. I was worried about my forced gauge; I knitted this quite tightly, which worked for the project and the pattern. But sometimes when you push a yarn, it bites back.

Happy accident with the buttons: I had bought a big jar months ago at the thrift store. It had many similar colors and sizes, and I happily use mismatched buttons on projects (I did on the Rebbecca jacket.) But hidden in the middle were four perfect buttons, shaped like little yurts, which echo the shape of the jacket with its stand-up lapels and curved fronts. Brilliant!

Specs:
Sunrise Circle Jacket by Kate Gilbert
IK free pattern online
7 skeins of Peace Fleece in Ancient Fern
Partial/leftover skein of fuchsia Cascade 220
Vintage buttons
Begun Winter 2007
Finished June 1
Success!

(p.s. Thanks to the kids for taking the pictures. They may not show the jacket's details, but they show the joy of finishing! The thrill of victory!)

Out of hiding!

2007-04-23T09:52:00.000-04:00

School is done! for a few weeks (summer session starts in May.) So now I am posting some pictures of all that has been happening.

1. I won Fluffy Knitter Deb's Blog Anniversary Contest! And here is my shwag, modeled by the lovely Girlpants. This included a fabby sock book (gotta have it!) and some SOCKS THAT ROCK!!!! This is vintage STR too, packaged in the 200 yd hanks in a gorgeous green/burgundy mix called Moss Agate. I LOVE IT! There is likely to be a jaywalker in my near future. Thank you Deb! Deb was my first sockapalooza pal, and knitted a gorgeous pair of beaded socks that I wear every week. Deb has been like a sock teacher to me; she answers loads of my sock/needle/techniques questions--with great patience! I have sent her back a wee thank you gift--check for it on her blog next week!

2. Socks! These are the YarnAhoy/Manasi socks in the Monkey Pattern. Manasi used to come to our knitting group in Richmond, before she moved to DC. She is a HUGELY talented dyer and spinner--she takes EVERY ribbon at the state fair for her handspun. These are modeled by my sister, who I gave them to. I made another pair of Monkey socks from Tofutsies (picture to follow).

This week I am finishing up a few projects (meaning, sewing together) and trying to organize some of our worst closets so that we can be more efficient when things go back to crazy again. I should be POURING FOs into the blog in the next weeks. Blog writing is not a priority when I have many projects due (though I still read loads); I have to admit I am just an intermittent blogger.

But...I do graduate in December! Roll on!

Crazy!

2007-04-03T20:15:00.000-04:00

Work school knitting.....everyone is busy, including me!

No pictures today--still in the camera. BUT I have finished

1. Kid socks
2. Baby blanket
3. Mystery baby gift
4. Monkey socks--which were gifted to my sis, who said she would NEVER wear wool socks and loved them! She tried them on while in progress and liked them; I knew they had to be hers!

Still in progress

1. More Monkey socks
2. Another mystery baby gift
3. Sunrise circle jacket
4. Slanted pullover in wool bamboo from IK 07 (back is complete, front is 1/2)
5. Avast from Knitty--still finishing

Of course, it is the end of the semester and I am swamped! Two weeks to go. And one minute until class! Eeek!

Finishing!

2007-03-02T09:51:00.000-05:00

Done! It fits! this is the first sweater I have made for myself that is truly wearable. I have been wearing it at home and at work; its light but warm. Knitting it was a real pain though; this must be the worst pattern ever. Like everyone else, I found that the charts are wrong, the directions are wrong...everything about the pattern was wrong. Except the photo. I just looked at the photo and made it from that. I had to rip the shoulder shaping (and many other parts) but I made it work. I bossed my knitting around!

Specs:
Jacket in Apricot from Rebbecca Magazine, smallest size
9 balls of Rowan Cork, bought on sale at lettuce Knit in Fall of 2005
Begun.....Fall 2006? finished February 2007.
16 st/4 on size 7 needles
Vintage buttons (mismatched, but similar) from jar bought at local thrift store

Against all odds...I did it!

The 6 things

2007-02-13T23:00:00.000-05:00

I love reading others: here is mine.

1. I cannot touch ice. The way it sticks to my fingers is HORRIFIC! I could never work in a Ben and Jerry's; just thinking about the scene in A Christmas Story with the kid and the tongue and the metal post......makes it into a horror movie for me.

2. I spent most of my summers on shooting ranges. My dad is a shooting competitor, and went to national competitions every summer--and took the family with him. We would camp in a TINY popup camper for a week (tiny meaning small enough to be pulled by a VW Rabbit. I am not kidding; it does exist.) We would spend the whole week being bit by bugs and wearing earplugs. My first job was running targets for these matches. I do not own a gun.

3. Bananas kill my stomach. I can hardly even smell them without getting queasy. EVIL.

4. I am very clumsy and need lots of personal space so I do not break anything. I have a massive desktop which is half empty; I would never have a glass tabletop for fear of breakage.

5. I have terrible social anxiety and am always surprised when nobody notices. Crazy Aunt Purl talks about always being silly and saying the wrong thing out of nervousness--that's me too. Its such a relief to know I am not the only one. I apologize in advance for the next stupid thing I say to you.

6. I have the short-term memory of a goldfish. I cannot memorize, but I am good at understanding. 20 page paper exploring the parallels of yarn collection and pattern collection, with a nod to knitting as a gateway craft? no problem. Name the 50 states? no way. I was good at research at an early age because I had to keep looking stuff up.

Getting down to finishing

2007-02-11T11:09:00.000-05:00

A few MENTAL weeks of school has made blogging very scarce around here. I expect this kind of work at the end of the semester, but at the beginning? I think I am over this first hump: I have a few minutes to breathe. Time to tackle some knitting problems. Here is a shot of my yarn space:

Pretty serious mess! In here I have a lace shawl, three sweaters, one pair of socks, needles, patterns and books. In the hatbox under the table I have 2 pairs of sock that need darning and some yarn scraps.

Time to go through the pile and get started. Most pressing: two sweaters in the finishing stages. The Rebecca Jacket in Apricot was started....maybe this summer? The yarn is Rowan Cork and the gauge big, maybe 4/inch. The pattern is notoriously bad, with very limited instructions, a bad translation, and a stitch chart that was just plain wrong. Like other knitters, I looked at the picture and made it up as I went along. I changed the chart, invented the repeats, and did a lot of ripping. Very frustrating. The shoulder shaping was all wrong, which I did not discover until I was sewing up. I had to reknit both shoulders....its been a long and frustrating trip.
Here it is with only one seam to go, and then crochet edging with buttonholes to add. Can I do it? Do I want to?

In the bag beside it is Avast, which is nearly done. I have knitted the collar and its hem, and tacked that down. I have knitted one front band which needs to be sewn down, one more to go. Then a bottom hem to knit and sew, then hems for sleeves, then sew up the sleeve seams (ok, so maybe its not nearly done.) The sweater is intended as a casual jacket to replace the really ratty one I wear around the house. I am doing Avast in hot pink Cascade 220 , with Knitpicks Andean Silk (wool, alpaca and silk mix) for the inner hems in white.

And for joy, I have one Monkey sock going, shown here with one of the Princesses. This pattern is simple and fun, and the yarn is beautiful (Monsoon Winds, check the Etsy shop here.) Manasi dyes this yarn, and she was part of our knitting group until work moved her to Alexandria. Her work is stunning and her color sensibility matches mine. This is one of her more muted colorways--I love her bright pink candy colors too! Stay tuned for the next chapter--did the sweater get finished? Did it fit?

Command Central

2007-01-26T13:43:00.000-05:00

Where the action happens......you have computer, headphones (kids are yelling and playing loud and I have to listen to lectures) remote (the tv is beside the computer, so often Dora and Power Rangers are blaring as I study Library 2.0. And when it is too much I can TURN IT OFF!) phone, stapler, lamps, notes and SOCK.

I am sure that this is not the learning environment that my professors expect, but this is the best I can do. The computer is in the middle of the main action room, which makes it easy to monitor little people from this spot. Problem is, they are also a constant interruption.

This is a sock for my 8 year old niece, the one who hates the seam in her socks and has worn the one pair I made her nearly DAILY since her birthday in September. I should be
finished with the mate to this by the end of the weekend. Footies for kids are FAST. Knitting while I listen and take notes seems to help my concentration....I am not an auditory learner, so having the knitting helps me to stay in the moment and listen. Otherwise I do tend to drift mentally.......

I had a lovely pep talk from a professor at John Tyler this week; I was feeling a bit overwhelmed with school and work and kids...she said that she felt like that in school too, but that it was totally worth it. I certainly hope so. At the preschool I am sure that I am the only one that works AND goes to school, and I may be one of two that even works. I do not see many people in my shoes and it can be pretty isolating--especially when I get down and tired and have too much schoolwork to do, and no time or energy to complete it!!!!!

Anyone else want to give me a pep talk? I could really use another!

(To be fair, the last two days I have really knocked out some assignments and I feel much more positive about completing the semester. I had even briefly considered dropping a class I was so overwhelmed! But I came to my senses. I would lose the money--and the financial aid!)

On the knitting front, I have joined the sleeves to AVAST and am knitting up the raglan yoke. The new IK looks GREAT and I may already have the yarn for some of the projects! After Josie's other sock is finished I'll start on more socks for myself; I have both Tofutti and some YarnAhoy to dig into. Good times!

Kids Know Good Stuff

2007-01-21T08:15:00.000-05:00

The Tofutsies has been calling my name.....I am nearly done with the BoyWonder's socks (on the toe decreases)
and the ball is talking to me from the yarn bowl (Suzanne.......knit me next.....listen to your knitzanity....)

We are going outta town for the day though, so I will start the footies I owe one of my nieces. Straight
stockinette I can work on in the car and while I talk. A fun lace pattern? Not so much.

Heartwarming sock story:

I had some sparkly pink yarn left over from my own socks, so I made a simple pair of footies for my
nieces birthday. She seemed to like them and i saw her wear them a lot. Turns out, she wears them nearly
every day and has great stress when they are in the wash. Commercial socks have a seam at the toe that
irritates her, and she wears my socks almost exclusively. I told her that she could wash them with
shampoo herself, even wear them into the bath. Though she is only 8, she is completely responsible for them.
She washes and dries them herself, and I rarely see her wearing anything else.

So many of our knitted gift are not appreciated--but these certainly are! She is very knitworthy and needs
another pair. One to wear and one to wash....

I have a theory about kids...they know good stuff. "I may be small but I am not stupid" has been my kid
motto for years. Girlpants was a baby, eating toast with butter. I ran out of butter so I had to put
margarine on the next piece---she threw it at me and yelled! Small, not stupid.

Handknit socks are good stuff! Lingerie for your feet!

Sock and more

2007-01-18T21:17:00.000-05:00

One sock down! one to go.

Yesterday Mary and I took the afternoon off and hiked out to Holly Spring Homespun--I had a 15% off coupon that I had been planning to use since December, and I had sights set on some gorgeous wool/bamboo that I had seen on my last trip. This time Kathy had a swatch knitted up with a lovely cable pattern--the stitch definition is stunning and the shine is fantastic. I bought enough for a cardigan; I want to copy the fit of one that I have worn out (you know, the way Bonne Marie does, uses fave garments as a template for garments she is currently knitting.) Fit is very important to me and yet seems to be the most elusive.

I have been thinking a top down raglan (easy to check for fit). And after seeing the way the yarn held pattern.......I may have to add a cable or a bit of allover lace. By the time I am ready to start on it (about a week, once I get the sleeves joined on Avast) I will know what I want.

Kathy said that this sock yarn was flying off the shelves--Tofutsies its called. Its superwash wool, soysilk, cotton and chitin (fiber from shrimp and crab shells!) The label says that the Chitin makes the fiber naturally antibacterial. I wonder if that cuts down on smell???

(If feet make you squeamish, you had better skip this next part. Jump down to the ***)

I have really nasty, smelly feet. I once took off my shoes on the airplane and the man beside me stood up and yelled throughout the plane "Whoever took their goD#@mn shoes off had better put them back on right now!" He was super rude, I know, but it was true. The scent was overwhelming. I do think that loose shoes (I wear clogs now because of my foot neuromas) and wool socks do cut down on the scent of this woman. I rarely knock myself over when I take off my shoes now that I wear wool socks. Its my way of saving the environment.

(***ok, foot talk over.)

Onward!

The sock, it grows

2007-01-17T11:16:00.000-05:00

Sock for BoyWonder.

He tried it on and pronounced it SOFT. He likes soft things so that must be good.

Played hooky last night and went to SNB--got to knit with the crew and see Mira and Baby Drake. They are back to the homeland (Texas) in a few short weeks. Drake was so calm and happy! My kids were calm and happy.....for about 3 minutes. Then they were ready to MOVE! But Drake just grinned at everyone and then fell asleep. No wonder Mira seems so relaxed!

I had not seen Melanie with her bump--she makes pregnancy look easy and beautiful. Often it is neither!

Socks with Rock!

2007-01-15T10:16:00.000-05:00

Here we have a gorgeous picture (ha!) of socks with a pet rock. No problem with this sock club!

Specs: Pink sock
Small size for Girlpants (age 4)
Raspberry and Kiwi Scarlet Fleece from Holly Spring Homespun
Size 3 clover bamboos
Begun/finished December 2006
Basic 2x2 rib from Sensational Knitted Socks (this is a WONDERFUL book!)

This was a Cinderella Glass Slipper knitting experience. I had started these for myself and the first sock was too big! I frogged it and started again. Next, too small! One more time.....even smaller. I gave up and started trying them on the kids--and whoever it fit, got it. I absolutely love this colorway; the yarn felt electric in my hands. I will buy another skein and make another pair....for myself.

Specs: Green Sock--I call it the Dragon Colorway
My size, for me
Meilenweit Mega Boots Stretch (wool, polymide and elastic) from Holly Spring Homespun
Size 0 clover bamboos
Began December 27, 2006
Finished January 15, 2007
Basic sock pattern from Sensational Knitting Socks

Love these socks! Love the gentle color changes and the warm stretchiness of them.

But mostly, I am glad they are finished and I can wear them. I love all of my knit socks and wear them almost daily. BUT they do wear out--I have been darning, but I calculate I need to knit about 4 pairs a year to keep up with my foot demand. More if posssible. Unlike a sweater, socks never make my feel look ugly or fat--they just feel beautiful. So for gratification, socks win.

I am deep in finishing/sleeve island/fear of general wrongness with the three sweaters I have going. Finishing socks gave me a real shot in the knitting arm. Onward!"Mom, this yarn is good for my socks."

No problem.

Welcome to my Knitzanity!

2007-01-13T09:40:00.000-05:00

Glad you could make the jump!

New year, new name, new blogspace. I had reserved the space Knitzanity about 8 months ago, but never built a site for it. I had been using the name KNITZANITY on my garment tags, and it really describes the INTENSITY of my fixation with knits and yarn. Plus, Suzanne is my name (suzanne's knitzanity? knitZANity?) Whatever. It suits.

I am back to posting and should be much, much better. As both of my readers know, I have had a tough 2006, with car crashes, moths, and foot problems.

Between work, school, kids and YARN I am crazy busy. Like millions of other people, sometimes I have too much of a good thing. This year I will choose wisely the projects I take on--both knitting, work and school ones. More joy!

(Knitted flower pin given as Xmas gift to one of my coworkers. Fairy Hare leftovers. Pattern from Nicky Epstein's Knitted Flowers)

Old projects recycled (Rowan Big Wool Capelet; never going to wear it. Lovely alpaca mix yarn! The kids loved helping me unravel it.)

I'll be tweaking and beautifying--adding link lists and other excitement. I have 2 sweaters on the needles, one in the sewing-up shop, one pair of socks and now a lace project going. Joy!!!!!