Filling a Void - With A Huge Cowl

It's quiet here.  Too quiet.  No kids pulling on my sweater asking what we are going to do next.  No dinner on the stove with mounds of dishes in the sink.  No soaking wet pile of mittens, ski pants and boots in my hallway.  I think I am feeling sad .... I don't know what to do with myself.

My husband and I call this post-party-depression.  After all the commotion, noise, activities and company from Christmas, silence should be a welcome guest, but it makes us feel lonely.  Yes, it is stressful when our house is busting at the seams, but it's also fun!  

So hubby is busy playing with his newest toy (a muzzleloader for next deer season) and son is playing with ALL of his new toys.  This leaves me with a void to fill.  Clean?  Nah.  Cook?  Nah.  Knit?  Ding-ding-ding!  We have a winner!!  

I wasn't in the mood to work on a WIP even though I have enough of those going to keep my hands busy for all of 2011.  I needed something quick - down and dirty.  (I refuse to say "instant gratification" because every knitter says that.  I am working on coming up with a new, catchy way to say it.)  Anyway, back to my void.  I searched my Raverly queue and came across the 5th Avenue Infinity Scarf.  My LYS has it on display - they used one skein of Berroco Ultra Alpaca Tonal and it's gorgeous.  With yarn in hand, I was on the tentenknits website getting the pattern and I came across the Snow Cowl.  WOW!  That thing looked big enough to fill any void with cushy, smooshy luxury.  Within minutes I was casting on, and within about 5-6 hours (over a couple days) my PPD (post-party-depression) was replaced with a cowl that I can't stop touching!  At 17" long, it is big enough to wear as a hood, or scrunched down around my neck.  I absolutely love it!

Cowl Specs:  Berroco Comfort Chunky (3), Snow Cowl by tententknits

Mrs. Claus' Workshop

It's been almost 2 weeks since I've worked on these mittens.  One mitt is finished and I just cast-on it's mate yesterday.  Luckily my son has Santa's Workshop (an arts & craft program at a local art studio) for 3 solid hours and he prefers that I stay "close by".  The closest place to sit and knit is a cafe.  What more could a knitter ask for than a warm, caffeine infused, muffin-serving place to sit and get a few, uninterrupted rounds in?  

The past 2 weeks have been crazy busy with exams and final projects.  My small business management class was a major pain but I managed to get my business plan written, portfolio designed, and burned onto DVDs.  There were just a few minutes left over to finish crocheting my SIL's stocking, and knitting 2 dishcloths.   What's left you ask?  I still have to knit 2 other pair of Bella Mittens before Christmas and a Thorpe hat (complete with duplicate stitched on school logo) for my son!!  Doable?  I've burned the candle at both ends before and think I still can.

Stocking & Stuffers

Let's start by saying that these 2 stockings are certainly not my best work.  I crochet so little, that I don't feel daring enough to get creative.  I'm also running out of time and have a knitting list longer than Santa's good list.  (I probably should have skipped playing around in Photoshop for a half hour just to create this little graphic.  Prioritizing isn't always my best skill.)

I have one more stocking to make and then it's time to get creative!  I am going to embellish them with maybe some pompoms (trying everything possible to use up scraps and reduce my stash), and little wooden clipboards that I bought at the craft store the other day.  The clipboards will have their names on them and a magnet on the back so that they can use it on their refrigerators after. 

What's a stocking without stuff in it?  Well these aren't even really wearable - unless you're into the ski boot look.  So I need to knit at least 3 dishcloths and put one in each stocking.  I started one today and instantly regretted it.  I detest cotton yarn (I'd rather knit with twine on chopsticks) and I am not a fan of Mission Falls 1824 Cotton because the nubby texture doesn't allow for a smooth knitting experience.  Why can't I remember this before I cast-on?  ... I think it has something to do with wanting to knit down my stash.  

One Row and Only One Row

I am exhausted.  Completely exhausted.  I barely have the energy to knit (or crochet).  Our Thanksgiving holiday was jam-packed with lots of family activities, plus food galore.  My hands always seemed to be holding some tasty treat, a child, or a dish towel.

My sister-in-law and I did manage to find a few minutes to knit (though not uninterrupted) and go to Kaleidoscope Yarns (completely childless and quite).  During our brief knitting session, my row counter only moved once.  Just one row!  Luckily our LYS field trip provided me just enough of a knitting-high to last the rest of the weekend.  Come Sunday night that high had worn off, my hands were shaking, and I just had to knit AND crochet.  I worked a few rounds on the second Incognito Cowl, and many rounds of a Scrappy Crochet Stocking.

My husband's family is coming to stay with us for Christmas and 3 adults don't have stockings.  That's just down right sacrilegious.  So I dug deep into the bellows of my stash and found some variegated yarn that I purchased back in 2004 at a tent sale.  (Who can pass up discounted yarn?)  I've crocheted a stocking before using the Scrappy Crochet Stocking pattern and it's super fast, and super cute.  This one won't be made with yarn scraps tied together, so it should be even quicker.  They have to be - I need to make 2 more stockings, plus finish 3 cowls, knit 2 more pair of Bella's mittens, and 2 dishcloths all before Christmas.

This means less typing and more knitting (or crocheting).

Done

Done!  I'm going to take my chances that the recipient of these warm mittens will not be reading my blog until next week.

Now I've got to get some work done before returning to the Incognito Cowls.

Mitts for Me

Yesterday was family portrait day.  We spent an hour and a half walking and posing all around the Hard'Ack Recreation Area.  Hay bales, corners of buildings,  a foot bridge in the woods, a soccer wall, and large rusted construction pipes made for some very interesting backdrops.  Even though the sun was out, the wind was out twice as much.  We froze our butts off (faces, ears, and hands as well)!  I was wishing I had knit us all hats, scarves and mittens for both cuteness reasons and warmth.  Regardless, our photographers were amazing and I can't wait to see the proofs of the shoot.

Once back home, I made a b-line for the fire place, being sure to grab my knitting on the way over.  But I couldn't knit quite yet.  My hands were frozen and refused to work the needles.  Several minutes and many, many cubic feet of natural gas later, I could knit.  The dog joined me for a few rows of the second Bella's Mitten.

These mittens would have been perfect on the photo shoot - they are super warm and the maroon color would have been a gorgeous contrast to our black coats.

One Bella Down

Today's knitting was uneventful.  No screaming kids, no talkers, just knitting.  I was able to complete one mitten (although this picture doesn't show it).

Having finished one, there are a few things that I will do differently with the next pair.  The opening bells out considerably. I understand that this is to accommodate the forearm, but I'm worried it will stretch out.  To fix this, I might cast on with US size 8's instead of 9's.

As other knitters mentioned in their reviews, the hand and thumbs are short.  I did add 2 rows in each of these.  The last 2 finishing rows of the thumb make it pointy.  If you're a nose picker, this point might be handy, but it's useless to me and I think it looks stupid.

The fabric created using a bulky yarn and a worsted-weight needle is tight and should be nice and warm this winter.

A Place For Everything

I brought my mom to the dentist this morning and started knitting the minute she went in for her root canal.  The dead silence of the waiting room was such a welcome change from yesterday's school girl screaming match.  But this was too good to be true.  Four rounds of knitting later, a man sits next to me decides that now is a good time for a marathon conversation.  (I now understand that he was probably nervous for whatever procedure he was about to endure and talking was his outlet.)  

He starts out the conversation by asking me if I am missing a knitting needle.  I wasn't and couldn't think why he would ask this question - maybe he found a needle somewhere and was holding on to it until he came across a knitter?  He pointed up to his own head and said that I had one stuck in my hair.  I laughed and explained to him that my hair was the perfect storage place to hold a cable needle while I was knitting because even if I forgot it up there, it would remain with me instead of on the coffee table in the dentist's waiting room.  Well that little verbal exchange opened up his flood gates and for the next 15 minutes, he read me tidbits from Car & Driver magazine.  Had I know he was going to read to me, I should have handed him my latest Interweave Knits.

Between the dentist and school pick-up, I was able to knit most of the cuff/arm piece of Bella's mittens.  So far so good.  I should have at least the thumb gusset and 1/2 of the hand done by tomorrow.  I'd like to knit tonight, but I can't seem to find my cable needle!

Mitten specs:  Bella's Mittens, Malabrigo Chunky in Pagoda

I Should Have Stayed In Bed

Bella's Mittens

I will warn you that this post is more bitch than it is stitch. My day has been plagued with issues. To start, my regular treadmill at the gym was taken so I used the one next to it. After a brief warmup I broke out into a run only to literally break the treadmill. 4 strides, 1 loud bang and 12 eyes staring at me. That ended that run. 

The next issue I will kindly abridge for reasons of tact. (After all, we don't know each other that well.). I urge you to listen to your body, or wear Depends. Otherwise, things can get messy, stinky and possibly embarrassing very quickly. I'll let you fill in the blanks.    

Lastly, my 15 minutes of me-knitting time was spent listening to preschool girls scream and squeal. I wanted to knit muzzles for them. The kicker was watching their parents stand there and do nothing. Despite the irritation, I was able to cast-on and knit 6 rows of a lovely, cabled pair of mittens. Tomorrow I am taking my mom to the dentist for a root canal.  If the dentist gives her enough novacaine, I should have plenty of scream-free knitting time.

Mitten Specs:  Bella's Mittens, Malabrigo Chunky in Pagoda

I Picked-up at Pick-Up

We recently switched our son from one school to another. At his old school, I used to convene with the other moms at pick-up - chatting about playdates, homework and husbands. At his new school however, I've decided to declare those 15 minutes as all mine! So instead of standing outside waiting for junior, I sit comfortably in my truck, sipping coffee, listening to NPR and knitting.

Today I was able to knit 11 rounds of an Incognito Cowl (1 of 4 for nephew Christmas gifts). I would have knit more rounds but I am using Denise needles (an upsell I got talked into) instead of my much preferred Addi's. If I am to get these cowls finished by Christmas, I'm either going to have to switch to Addi's or not leave the schoolyard at drop-off and knit all day. That's homework I'd be glad to do.

Knit Not Lost

Despite the long vacations between posts, I have not forgotten how to knit.  It seems rather, that I've forgotten how to blog.  Like exercise, vitamins, and sleep, I should be knitting and blogging daily in order to remain "healthy" (or at the very least sane).  Going forward, I will try to do just that - exercise, take my vitamins, knit, blog, and sleep.  Nothing else!

Going backward, here is the sweater I knit for nephew O for his 4th birthday.  This picture makes the sweater look huge, but fortunate for tiny little nephew O, the sweater is between a 4 and 6T.  At his current growth rate, he should get a year or 2 of wear out of this one.

Duplicate stitching on the B was interesting.  It wasn't difficult, it was just time consuming.  If you've never done this technique before, I highly recommend watching a video tutorial. Stitching side to side (top and bottom of "B") produced a much nicer, flatter fabric than did the verticals.  The verticals puff out a bit due to the yarn crossing back and forth on the inside of the sweater.

The pattern overall is wonder, easy, and quick.  No seaming what-so-ever.  I will actually be using this pattern again to make a sweater for niece A (nephew O's little sister).

Sweater Specs:  Children's Neck Down Pullover, Dream In Color Classy in Happy Forest, Berroco Vintage in Wild Blueberry.

A Scarf In Time For Summer

DSCN2715_0105
Originally uploaded by nay_knits

Sunshine, 80 degrees, sunscreen, endless swimming, and bonfires. I know what you're thinking ... time to knit a scarf! OK, maybe not, but all those things mean the end of the school year for me. So while the kiddos splash away, I knit as fast as I can.

This scarf pattern is one of my favorites. The feathers and fan stitch makes any yarn look good. Well almost any yarn. For this one, I used 2 skeins of Madelintosh Tosh Sock head doubled throughout. It was love at first sight at the yarn store. Something about the pinks, fuschia, and black grabbed me and wouldn't let go. That hold lasted for about 20 rows and then the color pooling started. I kept cutting a strand and reattaching in hopes to avoid the mass areas of color, but it just meant pooling of different color combinations and more ends to weave in. I finally gave up, but on blinders and kept knitting.

Although I did not like the finished product solely for the yarn issue, the recipient (son's 2nd grade teacher) absolutely loved it! She had been eyeing the one I knit for myself all school year. I'm glad I made her one - she's worth every stitch!

Bunny Nugget Addiction

Hello.  My name is Renee and I am addicting to knitting Bunny Nuggets.  I just can not help myself and these darling little squishy things are taking over my kitchen table and my life.  I can't pass by my needles without making one (why not when they only take about an hour and a half to make).  

I started out making them as Easter gifts for my son and a handful of little nieces and nephews.  After the first bunny (yellow) my list grew to include as many little kids I could think up.  Even kids I don't really know got added to the list just so I could keep making them.  If you have child who would like one, let me know!

Baby Shower ... more like downpour

This past Saturday, I had 2 baby showers to attend.  One from 11-1 and the other from 1-3.  Not only was the timing cutting it close, but as usual, so was my knitting.  I was knitting up until the moment I had to leave.  This is nothing unusual for me - my mother always called me "Last Minute Sally Sue".  Hey, I think pressure is what gets it done.

This sweater is Snug by Hinke.  I've made it before and it is now my go-to quick baby knit.  It is knit, literally every stitch, in bulky yarn with minimal seaming.  I knit this one in 2 evenings using Berroco's Comfort Chunky.     I typically knit in more fun, gender specific colors but the parents didn't want to find out what version of kid they are having, so this one came out beige.   The buttons are bone buttons from Mission Falls.  The shower guests oohed and aahhed at the tiny size and snuggly soft fabric.  (I live for the oohs and aahhs!)

Next up was a blanket for a baby boy - Rhyce (that's Reese just spelled differently).  The mom registered for a striped rug at Target and I decided to knit a blanket to match.  I followed the general idea of the Bob Blankie by Mission Falls but with bulky yarn and a larger striping sequence.   The yarn ends are braided together - which I recommended doing as you go instead of waiting to the end.  If you wait, consider the blanket frogged.  

Now that baby season is almost over, I plan to knit a little something for myself.  I'm thinking a little sleeveless number to get me through spring.

So I might have to break one of my resolutions.  But I really, really have to.  I don't have the necessary weights, colors, and amounts of yarn to make a blanket that looks like the stripey swatch on the right.  It's a rug for a baby's room and the mom registered for the rug.  I can make a blanket that looks just like it out of Berroco Comfort Bulky, for little $, and in little time.  But I don't have it in my stash.  I'd have to visit Kaleidoscope Yarns.

I'm thinking of modifying the Bob Blankie pattern from Mission Falls.  Maybe minus the thin white stripe between colors.  Another knitter suggested saving time by using the Conair Hair Braider to twist the yarn ends.  I might have to stop by Walmart as well!

We had our carpets cleaned yesterday and this meant moving furniture and exposing some of my knitting hiding spots.  I found 4 more projects.  One got chucked - a DK weight granny square blanket that had about 10 out of 60 blocks done.  One is a finishing nightmare - a baby blanket using many different yarns with miles of ends to weave in - and I will finish it even though the recipient is now 2 1/2.  I found another baby blanket using Lamb's Price Cotton Fleece.  I'm thinking this one will get frogged and the yarn stashed.  Lastly I found these little beauties ...

They are another pair of legwarmers, only this time they are for my sister-in-law (mother of the striped legwarmies).  I've been looking for a project to leave in my car, should I encounter a traffic tie-up of some sort.  Something mindless and without any actual pattern to have to worry about following.  This is it!!
So I'm not wishing for unfortunate vehicular issues, but if I am stuck in stand-still traffic, I'll have something to do.

I resolve to ....

First, here is my most recent WIP - Legwarmies (designed by Alana Dakos).  They are for my niece "Baby Belly"!  She's 14 months old and her mom's a dance instructor.  I think dancing is in her blood.  The legwarmies are modeled by my dog Maisy who is not a dancer.


RESOLUTIONS

Although we are half way through January, I thought I'd jot down my knitting resolutions.  I think I should reward myself for completed resolutions.

1.  Finish WIPS.  I think I have 6, but as I dig through my hidden stashes, I think I'll find more.

2.  Use as much stashed yarn as possible, when possible.  (Love the little out I put in there for my LYS addicted-self.)

3.  Design something knitted.

4.  Knit a project that involves intarsia.  I am afraid of intarsia and will go out of my way to avoid it by stranding or knitting something else.

5.  Knit a Christmas gift a month.

I'm sure I could make 100 more resolutions, but why set myself up for failure.  These 5 are going to be stretch ... especially the using stashed yarn.

Resolution In Progress (RIP)

I'll admit that I have WAY too much yarn, an addiction to Kaleidoscope Yarns, and not nearly enough time to knit.  My stash (not the one on my lip that requires waxing) grows on a biweekly basis - on average.  So for the second year in a row, I am resolving to used up stashed yarn as much a possible for new projects.  I purposefully put the loophole "as much as possible" in that resolution because, well ... you don't always have what you need and a year is a really long time!

I am hoping to make the following with the following:

• French Press Slippers (at least 4 pair)  /  Knit Picks: Wool of the Andes
• Classic Washcloths (2-3)  /  Crystal Palace:  Cotton Chenille
• Peruvian Tweed Shawl  /  Joseph Galler:  Peruvian Tweek
• Foliage  /  Malabrigo Yarn Chunky
• Laptop Case  /  Cascade 220
• Cabled Vest  /  Jo Sharp Silk Road Tweed DK
• Simple Garter Baby Blanket  /  Classic Elite Premier
• Otis Kimono Wrap  /  Classic Elite Premier
• Captain's Hat and Bella's Mittens  /  Berroco Comfort Chunky
• Whisper Cardigan  /  Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Semi Solid

Argghh! Not enough time to knit matey!

The summer's been pretty crazy around here - 2 college courses for me, our seven year old out of school, and unpredictable weather. I was able to squeeze in a few rows here and there and complete a few little projects.

Along with a handful of other WIPs, I will add a fair isle hat of skulls and crossbones. It is for my son's best friend Gabrielle for Christmas. Skulls are her thing right now and I think she's going to love this hat!! The pattern was a free pdf download from Helloyarns.com. I've chosen a black yarn (Berroco Pure Merino DK) and a self-striping sock yarn (Plymouth Encore Sock DK). The sock yarn adds a really cool effect to fair isle. I used a "What's My Pirate Name" website to name this project Red Grace Bonney. My project names tend to be bland so I thought I'd get a little more creative with this one.

If all goes well, I will cast on for this project tonight. If all goes well ....

Gauge and Taxes - the 2 are related.

I try not to knit much during January and February because in my house, it is tax season. And although I am not an accountant, we have a small business that is both complicated enough, and not-so-small, that it takes me 2 months to prepare so our accountant can then prepare. I'm not a fan of paying the government thousands of dollars, so the topic of taxes makes me knit a little tighter! My nice, even gauge constricts in unison with my blood vessels at the mere mention of paying MORE money in April after we've paid 4 other times throughout the year, PLUS what I've had withheld from my weekly checks. Couple this with the "Stimulus Package" and "Bailouts" and I've got myself a piece of knitted fabric that is so stiff and dense that it is now impenetrable.

I have two resolutions for the new year. The first, and already broken, was to use stash yarn instead of buying new. (HA! Never a possibility.) The second is to embrace my weakness and figure out a way to make them work for me. My tax related high blood pressure and tight gauge condition (AKA Vasogaugo Hyperknitus) can be put to good use. I'm knitting a straight jacket at a blindingly small gauge, that can be worn to prevent law makers and fat-cat executives from doing anything. On my design board are plans for a chastity belt. Forget the governments upcoming Contraceptive Plan - you can't make someone take a pill or practice safe sex, but a liquid-proof chastity belt ain't coming off!

As we proceed into March, our tax stuff moves from my desk to the accountant's. My even-gauge projects come out and my Vasogaugo Hyperknitus is under control. I hope to get several projects done, before the dreaded "How much you owe" phone call comes in and I forced to go back up to a size 15 needle just to get 4 stitches to the inch.