Who would have thought

spinning something thicker than lace weight goes so much faster… In all of the last year I’ve managed to finish one spinning project, the 10 oz of Lorna’s Laces Black Purl, which according to my usual practice I spun into 2ply lace weight (circa 40 wpi) – it took from October of 2008 until this January… Then the other night I was sitting around with my sister watching Whose Line is it Anyway on Youtube, and pulled out a 1/4lb of polwarth (hand-dyed from London-Wul, in blues) and by spinning it as worsted (well… from fingering to chunky) weight singles I spun the whole thing in a couple of hours… who would have thought.  Now, I’m not sure what I’m going to do with the resultant yarn (three skeins, the smallest of which is 83yds), but I have proven a couple of things:
1. I am constitutionally capable of spinning something other than lace.
2. Thicker singles do in fact not necessarily fall apart – miracle of miracles.
3. It is possible to finish a spinning project in less than 6 months.

I’m hoping with a little practice I could manage to spin such singles with a little more consistency, and then attempt my long admired feat of spinning yarn for a sweater. More particularly of spinning a malabrigo substitute for the Hourglass Sweater from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. (Which raises the issue of fiber… amount, blend… do I make the blend myself -and need to get a drum-carder, ‘cuz I just don’t feel like doing it by hand- colour, what can be used from the stash, what needs to be acquired… but that is all for another day… unless someone wants to volunteer some ideas.)

In the meantime, shawl plans abound. I continue to make progress on the MDAN shawl, I’ve nearly finished the fifth repeat (of 20) of the central panel. And I’ve been doing a decent job of getting a couple of rows in every day.

In my desk at work, for occupying breaks and other free time (like when I arrive early, as I am known to do), I have a Swallowtail Shawl in malabrigo lace (Inteso colourway). I’m up to the 11th or 12th repeat of the budding leaves chart, I’m going to do 19.

And last but not least, I’ve got plans for the long-in-coming Black Purl lace weight. My plan is to turn it into a Queen Silvia Shawl from Knitted Lace of Estonia. The pattern calls for 1375yds (and the yarn used in the pattern is one 100g skein). I don’t have any idea what kind of yardage I have, but I do have 307g so I’m going to assume I’m safe yardage wise (*hopes knitting gods aren’t listening*).

In other news…
- I’ve gone back to wearing contact lenses (and also have new glasses, which have been well received by the few who have seen them).
- I’ve lost 20lbs (one of my 101 in 1001 goals) – still can’t wear my ’skinny jeans’ (not to be confused with skinny jeans which I would never wear being totally wrong in proportion for them, but my jeans that are too ’skinny’ for me to fit into them)
- I have henna coming in the mail, so my hair will be changing colour (somewhat) in the near future
- I also ordered two DyakCraft batts, which I am rather excited to receive
- I’m going to try to start my Christmas knitting as my Olympic knitting

Laying Plans

I like plans, I don’t always follow them, but I like making them – they make me feel organized, productive, and excited about all those things I’m going to do. I don’t like big event life plans – I find God tends to laugh at those and then tilt the universe so they become impracticable or otherwise requiring revision, but I do like to micro-manage the little things, like my crafting. And it being a new year I’m starting to lay out plans for this year’s craft related events and attempts.

The big plans in the knitting world are:

1. Finish the MDAN shawl – which some of you will recall I started … in March of ‘08 *facedesk* my current plan is to work at least two rows every day and to have a deadline of Christmas for it. It will be done… (hopefully long before Christmas). I’m currently in the 4th repeat (of 20) of the centre panel.
2. Finish the second Stricken sock, which was also an ‘08 project.
3. Start Christmas knitting before the Summer. (And I’ve already started lining up some projects for this some of which I have yarn for, some of which I’ve already got a cart going for.)
4. Finish the Black Purl roving, and start a shawl with it.
5. Participate in the Knitting Olympics.

And on the other crafting fronts, this year I’m going to make soap. I’m going to move beyond the collecting of books and links and making of lists, and actually order some fragrances and colours, pick up some tools, oils, and lye and make some soap. I look forward to making a complete mess of it and then hopefully being able to put some away for Christmas presents (and maybe even have some for the Craft Fair at work in December, though that might be getting a bit ambitious.) My plan is to make a first batch in early March, and then do more as the weather improves and I can make use of the deck and possibly work out how I could use the workshop (whose major draw backs are 1. lack of plumbing and 2. lack of a stove, though that I might be able to work around with a portable burner…).

2009 – Year in Review

So yet another year has come and gone (well almost) and it is time to look back on the year that was and look forward to the year to be. 2009 could certainly be called an eventful year for me. We started the year off with the announcement that we were moving to the East Coast, and then spent the first few months doing all the things necessary to sell a large family home and move a family of 9 half-way across the country (oh, and I wrote a &^$%^-load of thesis during that time too…). There was the Great-International-Bridesmaid War, followed up by a May wedding in Boston (all of which was surrounded by more writing). There was a full month of nothing but Iter. Then there was the *ahem* glitch with the thesis. Bon Jovi and two months of company in the summer and another trip to Boston where I learned to run sound and was introduced to the world of community theatre. Then another couple of months of dealing with the zombie-thesis and getting a kitten (unrelated events really). Then back to the Bank (and doing grown-up things like working and getting paid regularly, having benefits and a pension…). And of course more zombie issues. I joined the gym and have started working my way back into my skinny jeans. And that pretty much rounds out the year. So a few things, in the grand scheme.

Knitting and fibre-wise it has also been an eventful year, more so than I expected (or realized). Knitting gained me my first friends here in NB, when I found the ladies of the Monday Night Knitter’s Group meeting right in the hotel (well basically) where we lived for our first week here. I’ve not managed to finish the Black Purl I’ve been spinning since last Christmas but it is close, and somehow I’ve still managed to acquire more fiber… including some much coveted BMFA Sheep 2 Shoe kits. I started designing my own patterns and even went so far as to share a couple.

Here follows the rundown of this year’s knitting FOs.

Socks:
(Given I managed to go most of the year without finishing a pair, this tally is quite impressive, and owed mostly to the month of Socktober)
Malabrigo Nanners (started: Jan 21)
Summer of ’09 Socks (started: July 18)
Strawberry Vanilla Socks (started: Sept. 24)
Socktober 09 – Noro Stripes (started: Oct. 1)
Socktober 09 – Road Trip Trekking (started: Oct. 6)
Socktober 09 – Caroline (started: Oct. 09)

Socktober 09 – Purple Rain (started: Oct. 11)

Lace:
(What a year on the lace front…in the scope of projects rather than volume, though I still didn’t finish the MDAN…)
Oyster Bay I (started: Feb. 19)
Oyster Bay II (started: Mar. 1)
Wedding Blanket (started: Jan. 23) – the project that nearly killed me

Overwrought (started: July 1)
Wrought Iron (started: June 6)

Accessories:
Mom’s Neck Thing (started: June 24)
Handspun Shawl (started: June 25)
Patriot’s Hat (started: Aug 9)
Christmas 09 – Dad’s Maritime Headgear (started: Aug. 31)
Christmas 09 – Mom’s Mittens (started: Aug 29)

Christmas 09 –Mittens: the Revenge (started: Sept. 7)
Christmas 09 – Purple Slant (started: Sept. 13)
Christmas 09 – Baby Blue Bias (started: Sept. 14)
To Market, To Market 09 (started: Sept. 16)
Zig-Zag Bag (started: Sept. 19)
All Points Bag (started: Sept. 18)
Lean to the Left (started: Sept. 21)
Lean to the Right (started: Sept. 20)
Christmas 09 – Elena’s Mittens (started: Sept. 22)
Christmas 09 – Beret (started: Sept. 26)
Christmas 09 – Hat for Mike (started: Dec. 05)
Christmas 09 – Purple Market (started: Nov. 11)
Christmas 09 – Quick Red Hat (started: Dec. 6)
Christmas 09 – Quick Blue Hat (started: Dec. 9)
Christmas 09 – Secret Santa Hat (started: Dec. 17)
Green Handspun Scarf (started: Dec. 12)
Christmas 09 – Big Red (started: Dec. 18)
Christmas 09 – Hat for Bertie (Dec. 24)

Kids:
Little Red (started: Aug 25)

Christmas 09 – NE BSJ (started: Aug. 28)
Christmas 09 – Soapy’s Sherwood (started: Sept. 2)
Sophie’s Twinkletoes 09 (started: Sept. 15)

So in the spirit of looking forward. Well the zombie is still there, so we’ll see what happens with that. Work is a whole new world of opportunities. With an ever widening circle of friends and acquaintances Moncton promises to more diverting and welcoming than it could be from my writing cell. My skinny jeans are still waiting (as are a goodly quantity of t-shirts….)

On the fiber-front my plan is to make 2010 the year of the FO, or maybe the year of the WIP. I’m going to finish things, yes the shawl and socks from last Christmas (not this just past but 2008…) are first on the list of things to do. These languishing projects will take precedence over new and shinny ones (not that there won’t be new and shinny….). I have some fiber acquisition goals (Dyak batts will be mine *insert evil laugh*), as well as some plans for the stash. I WILL finish the Black Purl and hopefully get it (at least started) turned into a lovely shawl from the Knitted Lace of Estonia book.

So to 2009 I can honestly say, if not the best and the worst of times – you’ve offered up some things pretty damn close, and it was one hell of a ride. To 2010, let’s see what you’ve got.

Cheers and a Happy and Blessed New Year to all.

Socktober 09 – the First

October has arrived, cool, crisp, and vibrant. I haven’t in the past participated in Socktober on any level, but this year – dreadfully wanting in sock knitting – I figured I’d make a point of knitting socks this month.

Specs: Noro Stripes
Pattern: … basic sock with stripes
Yarn: Noro Kureyon Sock in S236 and S240

Yardage: .36 of S240 and .21 skeins of S236
Needles: 2.25mm dpn
Cast-On: Oct. 1.09
Bound-Off: Oct. 5.09
Notes: the stripes are 6 rows, and each sock has a different colourway for the main colour

Specs: Road Trip Trekking
Pattern: plain vanilla with short row heel
Yarn: Trekking XXL colourway 51

Yardage: .51 skeins
Needles: 2.25mm
Cast-On: Oct. 6.09
Bound-Off: Oct. 8.09
Notes: Nothing to report really, this is the first time I’ve used this yarn, I like it well enough

Specs: Caroline
Pattern: Carolina
Designer: Monkey Toes
Source: Ravelry download

Yarn: Noro Kureyon Sock in S236
Yardage: .54 skeins
Needles: 2.25mm
Cast-On: Oct. 9.09
Bound-Off: Oct. 11.09
Notes: I eliminated the most bright tealy green, but otherwise rather like this colour progression

I’ve also been working on both of my scrap blankets, they are progressing slowly, but surely. And a few more Christmas presents are done.

Specs: E’s Mittens
Pattern: my own design
Yarn: Briggs & Little Heritage and Briggs & Little Regal, Bleached White and Lilac
Yardage: only partial balls each, less than half

Needles: 3.5mm
Cast-On: Sept. 22.09
Bound-Off: Sept. 25.09
Notes: These were set up so that the gusset does not stick right out of the side, but partially to the front. A. thinks the flower on the back looks like the Transformer’s logo.

Specs: Beret
Pattern: Raisin
Designer: Raven Jakubowski
Source: Ravelry download
Yarn: Knit Picks, Wool of the Andes in Spruce
Yardage: 1.36 skeins

Needles: 3.25mm and 6mm
Cast-On: Sept. 26.09
Bound-Off: Oct. 5.09
Notes: I tried 3 different patterns, before lighting on Raisin, which only took a night to knit. I really like the pattern and will probably make another.

Mom and Dad have returned from Italy (bringing back the camera, hence the post). Tomorrow I start work, which is going to seriously cut into my knitting time.

I’ve been listening to audiobooks, audible.com is having a sale this month on classics. I bought a couple of favourites and am enjoying them exceedingly. I finished Tale of Two Cities. And now I’m in the midst of the Count of Monte Cristo, which I haven’t re-read in years though it is one of my favourites, I’m loving it- enjoying the things I’d missed and forgotten, savouring things as they unfold, and crazy anticipating certain points to unfold.

Of Cats and Bags

I have more FOs and more patterns. In my Christmas knitting this year there were plans for a number of market bags, to be filled with sundry items (like soaps, wine, other knitted items…). Emboldened by the success of my scarves I determined to try my hand at bag designing. The resulting four bag patterns are published together in one PDF, which can also be found on the Free Pattern’s page.

Pattern: All Points Bag

Level: easy (requires knitting: in round, yo, k2tog, ssk, and s2kp and crochet: ch and afghan st)
Yarn: Knit Picks Cotlin (70% Tanquis Cotton, 30% Linen, 123 y/50g), 2balls, in Habor colorway
Needles: 4.5mm circ
Size: 14″ x11″ unstretched
Gauge: 4.5sts/6rows = 1” in stockinette st
Description: Bands of eyelet lace alternating with stockinette, mitered bottom, crocheted strap.

Pattern: Zig-Zag Market Bag

Level: easy (requires knitting: in round, yo, k2tog, ssk, and s2kp and crochet: ch and afghan st)
Yarn: Knit Picks Cotlin (70% Tanquis Cotton, 30% Linen, 123 y/50g), 2balls, in Coffee colorway
Needles: 4.5mm circ
Size: 14″ x11.75″ unstretched
Gauge: 4.5sts/6rows = 1” in stockinette st
Description: Zig-zags of eyelet lace, mitered bottom, crocheted strap.

Pattern: Lean to the Right Bag

Level: easy (requires knitting: in round, yo, k2tog, and crochet: ch and afghan st)
Yarn: Knit Picks Cotlin (70% Tanquis Cotton, 30% Linen, 123 y/50g), 2balls, in Royal Plum colorway
Needles: 4.5mm circ
Size: 14″ x12″ unstretched
Gauge: 4.5sts/6rows = 1” in stockinette st
Description: Continuous rightward leaning spiral (right-side up that is), spiral bottom, crocheted strap.

Pattern: Lean to the Left Bag

Level: easy (requires knitting: in round, yo, ssk, and crochet: ch and afghan st)
Yarn: Knit Picks Cotlin (70% Tanquis Cotton, 30% Linen, 123 y/50g), 2balls, in Harbor colorway
Needles: 4.5mm circ
Size: 15″ x12.5″ unstretched
Gauge: 4.5sts/6rows = 1” in stockinette st
Description: Continuous leftward leaning spiral (right-side up that is), spiral bottom, crocheted strap.

I’m always surprised by how much this kind of project stretches. They are fast (not one took more than a couple of days), simple enough for tv knitting, but interesting enough to be enjoyable, and each one uses only 2 balls of Cotlin. I think I’m going to need to order some more Cotlin and make a couple for myself (since apparently I can never have too many re-usable bags).

And of Cats… we got a kitten on Friday the 11th.

His name is Simon Templar (a near second place was Big Ben, but A. decided on Simon) and he is about 5mos. We adopted him from the SPCA here in Moncton. We looked at a number of others, but he was the calmest and most friendly (and given teh crazy that can happen here clam and friendly is important). We brought him home and … he promptly hid for nearly 24hrs (giving everyone a scare… imaging him trapped in wall or something). I found him when I was watching something in the theatre (at that point he was hiding behind a giant framed picture of the hands from the Creation of Adam that is leaning against a wall at the back of the theatre). I caught him and brought him upstairs where he was confined in the bathroom for a day and then gradually allowed access to more and more of the house. He is now roaming the whole house happily. He enjoys attacking the flowers on the chair in the living room and galloping the length of the house. I don’t know how he feels about Bertie trying to teach him colours and to count…

Too Much To Explain, Let Me Sum Up

I’ve been a busy beaver on the knitting front (and have also not neglected the zombie… wonder of wonders).

I’ve got another four FOs to add to the list (or check off the list depending on how you look at it…)

Specs: Christmas Mittens 09 – The Revenge

Pattern: Herringbone Mittens with Poms
Designer: Elli Stubenrauch
Source: Ravelry download
Yarn: Briggs & Little Heritage (Bleached White and Mullberry)
Yardage: about half of each skein

Size: um… maybe between a women’s medium and large…. I have no idea…
Needles: 3.25mm dpn
Cast-On: Sept. 7.09
Bound-Off: Sept 12.09
Mods: um… well – I didn’t use pompoms, I made things a little longer and a little wider (with 2 additional border sts on each side), and I did the cuff last (I did the first mitten with a ribbed cuff, hated it and cut it off and knit the stockinette cuff down from there, used a provisional cast-on for the second mitten and did the cuff like the first one).
Notes: I like the herringbone part, I’m not crazy about thumbs placed right at the side of mittens. Carrying one yarn in one hand and one in the other really does mean no twisting, how awesome…

Specs: Sophie’s Twinkletoes
Pattern: Twinkletoes
Designer: Chloe Sparkle
Source: Knitty, Winter 2006

Size: Toddler
Yarn: Knit Picks Cotlin (Black)
Yardage: 27g
Needles: 3.25mm
Cast-On: Sept. 15.09
Bound-Off: Sept. 16.09
Notes: These are really cute, and super easy – now if only they’d fit…

And the other two were an experiment in things pattern-designer-y. Not only the knitting, but the writing up and the posting somewhere aspects have been explored. So I give you:
Pattern: But I’m Biased

Designer: … me
Source: here… (and it is also on the new Free Patterns page here)
Yarn: malabrigo, Worsted (100% merino) – Wide: Holly Hock, Narrow- Stone Blue
Yardage: one fully skein
Needles: 5.5mm

Cast-on: Wide- Sept. 13.09 / Narrow Sept. 14. 09
Bound-Off: Wide – Sept. 14.09 / Narrow – Sept. 15.09
Blocked: Both – Sept. 15-17.09

Notes: This pattern also looks really cool in this yarn unblocked. I’d like to try another where I do not wet block it (which is my standard practice for blocking) and try steaming or damp-towel to reduce the curling inherent in the stockinette, but without opening it up as much.  (The last picture, above, is unblocked.)

I’m hoping once the zombie is out of the way (think after Christmas… or in the winter some time) that I can start playing with some of the ideas I have for other designs, but this was a good way to experiment with the various aspects of pattern publishing with something super brainless.

I also received a Knit Picks order and have already cast-on one of several of the market bags for this Christmas, but that will have to wait for another post.

The hits just keep coming

or what you can accomplish during Star Trek marathons…

FO: Mom’s Christmas Mittens

Pattern: not really a particular pattern, used a combination of sources on mittens in general and thrummed mittens
Yarn: Noro Silk Garden
Yardage: about 1.5 skeins (well, 2 with nearly half a skein total weight left over…)
Thrums: Briggs & Little Country Roving in natural/white (I used about 1/2 a disk… these mittens are well thrummed)

Needles: 4mm
Cast-on: Aug. 29.09
Bound-off: Sept. 2.09
Notes: I matched the stripes almost perfectly (which resulted in a slightly longer cuff on the second mitten), the mitts are very puffy and should keep mom’s hands warm. I’m really pleased with them, if they are a bit silly, someday I’ll get around to knitting myself a pair. I rather liked working with the Silk Garden, there was one knot in one of the skeins, thankfully it was at the point in the skein that is still in the ball of unused yarn.

And another- Soapy’s Sherwood

Pattern: Sherwood
Designer: Angela Hahn
Source: Knitty, Fall 2006
Size: 4

Yarn: Briggs & Little Soft Spun, in Wedgewood
Yardage: about 2.5 skeins
Needles: 3.5mm circs (and dpns)

Cast-on: Sept. 2.09
Bound-off: Sept. 7.09
Finishing: Sept. 7.09
Mods: um… well I pretty much winged the collar, not that it really required much thought.
Notes: I really liked the design and the ribbing made a really stretchy fabric (as in I could put the body of the sweater on… it was knit for a 2 year old…). The instructions for the sleeves confused me (it took a minute or two… or more… to realized I was suppose to knit back and forth for the first 8 or so rows to use up the gusset stitches); otherwise it was clearly written and very fun to knit. I loved not having any seams to sew up at the end.

Seriously, this part fits me… not esp. flattering I’ll admit, but I can put it on…

Also, I’ve been back to various yarn suppliers (ie. Zellers which sells B&L here and Cricket Cove). I picked up some malabrigo worsted weight merino, for possible cowls, scarves, etc. and some more B&L worsted for mittens. I’ve decided that double knit mittens will be sufficiently warm, regionally traditional, and challenging for the rest of the Christmas mittens.

I’m starting to think maybe I need a sweater in the Mullberry B&L…but before I spend any more time on that… the zombie is calling

Productivity

All things considered this has been a productive few days. I’m making progress on the zombie, from which I am taking a break to blog. And there have been FOs and progress on WIPs. And I got my library card, New Brunswick has a fully integrated province wide library system… what a fantastic idea! I’m going to have fun just requesting things from all over… not that I have a lot of time for reading right now, but I can order Terry Pratchett from anywhere in the province!! (More about the library in a minute.)

First FOs.

Specs: Mom’s Neck Thing (and yes, her birthday is in March… and yes, I just finished her present…)
Pattern: Button-up Neck Warmer
Designer: Mavis Adam
Source: Spin-Off, Summer 2009

Yarn: Dye-Version Bamboo Sport
Yardage: about 1/2 a skein
Needles: 5mm
Notions: 4 purple buttons from Fabricville, Moncton

Cast On: June 24.09
Bound Off: June 25.09
Finished: Aug. 31.09
Notes: I tried a couple of other patterns before settling on this one. The pattern is great, interesting stitch pattern, texture, and very very quick. I just might have to knit one with handspun…

And a Christmas present that is now finished ahead of time… rather than an IOU…
Specs: Dad’s Maritime Winter Headgear
Pattern: Gussetted Helmet Liner
Designer: Ellen M. Silva
Source: Ravelry download

Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash, in navy blue
Yardage: 200yds
Needles: 3.75mm and 4.5mm circs
Cast On: Aug. 31. 09
Bound Off: Sept. 01.09
Notes: The pattern instructions look way more complicated than the actual knitting is. I really liked the project, the construction was fun a good mix of mindless (7″ of 2×2 ribbing) and complicated. It also knit up really really fast.

I really don’t know what the dinosaur arms are for…

I continue to make good progress on mom’s mittens, I’m at the decreases for the top of the mitten already. (And I’m going to need more roving for thrums if I’m going to make mittens for the kids… or I could do double knit ones… those would be nice and warm…).

Back to the library, our library (Moncton Public) has old issues of Vogue Knitting, from the 80s and 90s, all bound nicely as hardcover books. I’ve decided to take them out a few at a time and flip through them for shits ‘n giggles. This week I have Fall and Holiday 1986. Here are some highlights:
*Articles by Elizabeth Zimmerman, one (Fall) on meeting up with knitters in England on a trip home and the other (Holiday) on afterthought thumbs in mittens and thumbless mittens for joggers.
*An article on knitters in literature
*Discussions of: short rows (used more for shaping edges than fit – but given it was 1986… lack of shaping makes sense); cap sleeves (presented as useful because of … fashions becoming fitted…?!); understanding cable charts; using beads in knitting; men knitting; different cast-ons; finishing techniques for machine knitters; an international project to knit a world map in patches
*lots of patterns that are… not in keeping with my sense of aesthetics… including plenty of: plunging backs, massive shapeless pullovers, huge shoulder pads, and giant intarsia Christmas trees, cats, and geometric shapes. In fact the only two patterns in the combined volumes I’d consider knitting are 13 and 14 from the Fall issue, which are … 1940s and 1950s patterns, only barely modified.
*some interesting varia: a large number of ads for knitting machines; ads referencing Casablanca and Marilyn Monroe; an overwhelming focus of patterns on women’s sweaters hardly even a vest to be seen let alone anything else; ads or reviews for books I recognize (the Harmony stitch dictionary, the Fox & Geese & Fences and Flying Geese & Patridge Feet books, Knitting the Old Way, The Ashford Book of Spinning)
*The more things change the more they stay the same: letters complaining that the “once beloved” magazine has gone downhill; familiar names (and faces) in designers and yarn companies

It is kind of fun to look at them (particularly given I was under the age of 10 for the whole of the 80s and therefore cannot be held accountable for anything I wore then…), and I think it will be an amusing if not also occasionally informative exercise.

Pre-Season FOs

It is currently pre-season… for football (yeah!!), for Christmas knitting, for school here (which starts next Tuesday), and fall, which appears to have asserted itself this week; and FOs are piling up, which is never a bad thing. This weekend I finished S.’s hood, a BSJ, and the first of 8 thrummed mittens for Christmas.

Specs: Little Red
Pattern: Little Red
Designer: Erika Flory
Source: For the Love of Yarn

Yarn: Briggs & Little Heritage, in Red
Yardage: 2 skeins
Needles: 4.5mm circs
Notions: one set of pewter claps
Cast-on: Aug. 25.09
Bound-off: Aug. 28.09
Finished: Aug. 29. 09
Mods: I added some decreases to the hood, in order to shape it as the point just wasn’t doing anything for me. I’m not really sure exactly what I did at this point, but basically I decreased at about 7″ over the centre sts until I had only 18 or 19 stitches either side (not counting the border), these were then three-needle-bound off as in the pattern.
Notes: This was fast, cute, and fun. I just hope it fits her… The yarn is rough and tough, and should be warm and wear really well.

Specs: NE BSJ
Pattern: Baby Surprise Jacket
Designer: Elizabeth Zimmerman
Source: Knitter’s Almanac (supplemented via Wiki pattern page in Rav)

Yarn: Galway and Galway Heather (Red, White, Grey and Heather Blue)
Yardage: not sure, I was using up leftovers from the stash, but I think I used the better part of a ball of blue
Needles: 4.5mm circs
Notions: 3 football helmet buttons from Michael’s
Cast-on: Aug. 28.09
Bound-off: Aug. 29.09
Finished: Aug. 29. 09
Notes: I used the ssk k1 k2tog, p the k1 on the reverse decreases and kept the stockinette ridge going for the increases. The striping pattern is (in ridges not rows): 1R, 1W, 1R, 13B, 1W, 1R, 1W, 7G, 1W, 1R, 1W the rest B. This pattern is really fun, I foresee many more in the future.

I also finished the first mitten of my thrummed mittens for Christmas, which has been an interesting experience. First off – the mitten is huge and looks insane, like a cross between boxing gloves and oven mitts… But they’ll be warm damit! It fits mom (yeah!) – seriously she has mutant long fingers… I started the second one last night, and am at the beginning of the thumb gusset (I’m modifying the tutorial from the Yarn Harlot with a Briggs & Little pamphlet and making some of it up as I go along, so far so good). I might have over-done it a bit on the size of my thrums, but far be it for me to under-do anything… though I am thinking of making them a little less intense for the other pairs.

I’m thinking narrower thrums might have made clearer heart shapes…

Under the Weather

or rather under the influence of the weather, I have begun the annual ritual of preparing for Christmas, more specifically preparing my knitting plans for Christmas. Naturally, this involves trips to yarn stores and online yarn orders.

Notice I said “trips” to the yarn-store… Earlier this week I made my first foray out for Christmas knitting supplies, a simple trip to Cricket Cove. Where I got yarn for mittens for mom, a hat for dad, mittens for E., a sweater for my god-daughter, and roving for thrums for mittens for various members of my family. I got it all home, and as one does, immediately took pictures for Rav. While doing so I realized something… something I should have noticed AT the store… namely, the yarn for the sweater was not all the same dye-lot. *facepalm* Two skeins of 801 and one of 803, and naturally there was a noticeable difference between the two, which I hadn’t noticed in the store. So… I got back in the car and went back to CC with the non-matching skein to exchange it (thinking along the way that it was stupid and presumptuous of me to only bring that one assuming they would have more of the 801…but apparently the Fates found my daring worthy of reward as there was, in fact, another skein of 801). In the end, I returned home victorious and reminded to ALWAYS check the dye-lot.

The two original skeins of 801.

I have grand plans for this years knitting which include:
* one toddler sweater (which occasioned such adventures as were related above)
* 4 pairs of thrummed mittens
* 1 helmet liner style hat
* 1 beret
* 4 market bags
* 1 BSJ 9mo-1yr sized
* and two yet to be determined projects, though I am debating the possibility of knitted Nativity figures, or moebius cowls…

Before Christmas, I have said god-daughter’s birthday, knitting for which has been the primary (knitting) task of this week. I currently have blocking one of these, which I will post FO specs of once it is finished blocking and I have found and attached a clasp. I’m planning a pair of Twinkle Toes to go with it, but the yarn for that is part of a forthcoming KnitPicks order.

Actually, the list doesn’t look so bad when I lay it out like that… and having the bulk of the birthday knitting done gives me hope for the rest. Now the question is, what to start on next? The sweater because it will require the most work? Mittens because they are fast and I could start piling up things that are finished? The helmet liner because there is only one? The BSJ because my intended striping pattern requires some thought?

Other bits of random:
*I have re-engaged the zombie-thesis in earnest, now that the invasion of company has subsided
*I was back at my spinning, just as the Christmas planning bug bit me, and now it looks like the spinning with languish again until after the Christmas knitting is done. (One day I will finish this particular spinning project and then I will start on a hand-spun hand-knitted lace shawl, really… I will… one day.)
*In honour of my new home province, I have embraced things Briggs & Little for this bout of knitting, the mittens (with the exception of a pair in Noro for Mom) are all going to be B&L, and the birthday and Christmas presents for god-daughter will be in B&L. It is sturdy, reliable, comes in lovely colours, is widely available here in NB, and is wonderfully priced.