I'm on a roll (with one skein wonders)

So, there's been yet another scarf since we last talked stitches.  Little gal wanted one of her own, and considering she never makes knit requests (and has rarely been the recipient), how could I refuse.  Blocking as we speak...


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But while I was picking up a skein for her, another sneaky little  bundle of greyish-teal seemed to jump aboard.  Time to take a break from scarves and move onto a hat that I've had my eye on since last Fall's copy of Vogue Knitting.  One of these days I'll make it back to a bigger project, but somehow these quick portable patterns seem to best suit my days right now.  (I still take moments to daydream and dog ear a couple of sweater patterns for next Fall when the bundle of boyhood starts Kindergarten).  



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(The copy that also makes me start contemplating a drastic hair switch-up again...hmmm...I mean it's only taken me a year to grow out the last hasty decision.  And I'll have the hat...that one on the left.) 

Vogue Knitting, Fall 2009

SockScarf-tober

i will not knit socks i will not knit socks i will not knit socks i will not knit socks...

It happens around this time every year.  Ravelry, blogs, mystery knit-alongs...they all start tempting me with the idea of knitting socks.  I've fallen victim to Sock-tober for three years running, and I have three single ill-fitting socks to show for it.  And here's another little irony - I hate wearing socks.

SO, I vowed when I caught sight of some *swoon*-worthy inspiration back in July that I wouldn't fall into the trap again.  I'm sticking with scarves.


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Because, oh how I do love a scarf.


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And the great thing about scarves is that you just pick a stitch and keep going until the yarn runs out.  While the air gets a little chillier and the rain comes and goes, you seek out the nearest armchair or the driest patio you can find.  You throw on an audiobook, grab a coffee, or just sit and listen to the whirlwind of excitement going on around you (the most likely choice around here).  And in no time at all, you've got something to brighten any day.

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No fancy pattern for this - just a trusty stitch dictionary and a rough idea of the width and gauge I wanted.  When I have a moment and stop running and around looking all Fall-catalogue I'll try to type something up and give it a name.  And then if someone wants to turn it into sock...well go ahead and knock your socks off with it. : )

First Falling

A making stand-still.  I wasn't kidding.
It started with a burst of creative energy and then a quick fizzle as soon as a few things were finished and the busy-ness of late Spring came along.  Approaching the middle of July, I can finally start to feel the urge slowly returning.  The biggest obstacle now is school break with very very few activities booked and instead, lots of play and swimming and home days and reading and play-dates.  The last pause before my gal heads into grade one and full weeks.  In case you haven't read between the lines, that translates into lots of my time being spent doing everything other than following that crafty urge (or cleaning for that matter...but I obviously find that part easier to let go of).

Anyways, back to my point.  I haven't been knitting.  At all.

Settling back into this blog space led me over to Knitty, and I really got inspired by their new concept of First Fall (with Deep Fall to follow in October).
 

"Starting with this issue, fall begins in July. Because how can you have 

a fall sweater ready to wear if you don't start a little ahead of the season?  

So welcome to First Fall. We think First Fall is about transition." 

(Knitty.com, Issue 32, Inventing New Seasons)

And I fell in love with some of their latest patterns.  Mojo levels instantly started rising.

 images courtesy of knitty.com

Coquille Shawl: Knitty First Fall 2010

 Purlieu: Knitty First Fall 2010

P2K2 repeat repeat repeat

until piece measures 30". I'm purling. I'm knitting. Just a few more inches to go. I swear there's really only a few inches left.

28" still? Really?

Today could be the day.

A Crafty Case of A.D.D.

My brain is awhirl lately and I have little to show for it besides piles throughout the house and very little cleaning taking place around them. So which one should I tell you about today? (Get ready for a whole lotta linking!)

I could talk about all the squares and rectangles I've cut for the Amy Butler patchwork quilt that I was so excited to begin.

Or I could tell you about the stack of fabric that I just bought an hour ago after seeing this tutorial over at Sew Mama Sew last night. A festive tree skirt that has now pre-empted the patchwork quilt.

Picture a whole lot of white pulling this together.

Then again, I could post about the latest book that frequently has me curled up in a sunny corner daydreaming about a wardrobe overhaul.

Of course, I really should be updating you on the no-longer-such-a-Mystery sock which seems to have stopped in it's track at the 90% mark (and yes, that's just the one sock). But then I would have to confess to cheating on said sock with a certain shrug which I've managed to keep on the down-low up until now.

You can see my predicament; blog-hopping is a dangerous thing. The gal who is usually true to her 'one project at a time' rule has somehow gone way way way off the rails (and I haven't even brought up the baking, decorating, and kids play ideas that are circling in my brain).

So I think I'll just set all of those things off to the side and spend a couple of hours cleaning the house and contemplating some sort of direction for finishing a few things before the end of the year. Then I'll feel completely without guilt when I fall into craft-busting mode for the rest of the week. After all, this November that I'm loving so much is going to be a quick one.

"Mischief Managed"

I was moments away from morning posting when I grabbed my e-mail.

This morning's newspaper seemed pretty depressing, what with H1N1 and GTA car insurance rates going through the roof. But then I came across this gem which I have to share. If you haven't heard of "yarnbombing" check this out.

Have a good one.

Dad

I think I better start knitting some cushions for the fence I sit on when it come to yarn graffiti. My reaction to this whole idea ranges from "How cool is that!" to "You're not just going to leave that there are you? The forecast is calling for rain."

I don't see pole cozies in my personal future, but admit that a quick search turns up some inspired yarnstorming efforts against the gray urban landscape.



And since discovering Knit the City, I am positively in love with the idea of a knit-adorned London Phonebox.



I wonder if anyone has needles at the ready for the Vancouver Olympics? I mean, we're already pushing the red mittens.

My Bottle Model

Clue #1 for Through the Loops' mystery sock - Complete! And it should be noted that there was zero head scratching, zero swearing, zero ripping, and a 100% fitting cuff in the end. These are bold statements of a very happy knitting week.

I tried to snap a picture of the cuff on my leg - I really really really tried. Pilates-style-balancing-a-camera-on-my-face-with-a-leg-in-the-air sort of tried. But in the end a bottle model seemed to make more sense.


Kirsten's instructions are so clear, with enough variety to make this a fun but completely non-frustrating knit. I am a little torn by the colourway - it may not end up doing the pattern justice but the bold and happy colours are fitting the bill at the moment. This probably means a pattern to be repeated a few times.

There is something incredibly liberating about not knowing what the pattern you are knitting will look like in the end. There's no analyzing, or comparing - just follow the directions and let things unfold. And having this small accomplishable goal for the week is a pretty wonderful way of seeing something through to completion.

And with another day to wait until Clue #2 gets posted, I think I'll go and uncork my model and grab a very heavy book. Overcast and windy can make for the best Fall afternoons.

Revisiting

My sock knitting history is comprised of a single sock (beautiful to look at but a size too big) and an abandoned cuff (a summertime case of knitters ADD).

Monkey Sock - October 2008

But the idea of sock knitting keeps tugging at me; the draw of a vibrant colourway, those tiny DPNs that I so love to knit with, a transportable little knit to accompany Fall drives.

And then yesterday brought this mystery sock KAL into the equation.

Socktoberfest begins. I'm not sure where it's going to take me, but hopefully the month will end with a fitting pair.

Trick Shots

Let me start with an update from yesterday. Half an hour after dropping him off...I got a call to come pick up the Little Big Boy. After the first five minutes, he realized I wasn't right coming back...he had strong feelings about that. We'll try again next week and in the meantime I am soaking up the increase in cuddliness which the whole experience has drawn out of him (he's basically keeping me as close as possible in case I get any more funny ideas!)

But on a brighter note, I finally have a finished Tree Jacket off the needles, blocked and ready to share.

And I really did want to post this today (in the absence of any other post topic). Which raises my longstanding issue with self-shots. Here are the obstacles I usually work around at this point:

a) The absence of anyone else over 4' in the house when I want to take the shot.
b) The quick realization that my mirrors need cleaning.
c) Shifting natural light which is again, usually not very cooperative when I happen to be ready to do this stuff (which is why FO pictures are usually in the kitchen, the hub of all activity...and fingerprints)
d) My desire to get a really good shot of the whole sweater, while being close enough to highlight the stitchwork, but without including my face, a double chin, the clutter surrounding me, or the loose strings that still have to be worked into the knit.

Unfortunately, this wasn't a great morning for working around those sort of obstacles. So I bring you the best I've got; with the help of Mosaic Maker and a bit of imagination, I think you'll get the idea.

1. Trick Shot 5, 2. Knitting Trick Shot 1, 3. Knitting Trick Shot 1

I also bring you an outtake and small taste of what I'm talking about (the obstacles, and my loveable appendage).


Pattern: Tree Jacket
Designers: Sarah & Rachel, Zephyr Style
Needles: US 8/5.0mm
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, Brown
Details available here on Ravelry

Field Trip of Dreams

Well folks, the week didn't make any more sense as it went on (although I did eventually manage to get on top of that calendar situation). And now that Friday has arrived, I don't honestly know what we did with the week? It was busy, it was loud, it was action-packed, but I'm not really convinced that a single thing managed to get finished (including a certain sweater that I was sure would be).

So I'm going to wave the white flag for the day, focus on making it through to the long weekend ahead, and daydream about field trips.

I had a passing thought this morning (somewhere between the shower and my first load of the laundry, and definitely before my first coffee) about a field-trip to here to take one of these and buy some of this and that. New York, here I come. Back in the rat race, I at least had a yearly conference or two to charge my batteries; doesn't Home Management come with the same perks? Oh yeah - lack of an expense account and I am the on-site daycare.

I guess this field trip will have to wait a few more years as well (damn mortgage!). But HOW amazing would that BE!

While I work on coming up with something at least half-as-exciting and within 100km, here are a few shots from one of my favourite Summer '09 field trips - Tobermory, Ontario and one perfect family outing. It was less about what we did and more about needing a sunny afternoon with lots of inspiring sights and sounds.

The Prodigal Sweater Returns

Am I going to give up? No way.
Am I going to give up for right now? You bet your $#@.
- Me (Feb. 2008)

Some things just deserve a second chance. An unreserved, open armed, objective second shot.

Tree Jacket: It's been two years since my first attempt at this pattern. It's been a year and a half since it went into hibernation. To be fair, I was knitting while pregnant and then with a newborn so the first chance was distracted at best. Those sort of extreme expansions and contractions (waistline and baby) don't really support the best size selection.

Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino: Me and this stash have had a checkered several months together; I've tried casting-on with it no fewer than ten times and with three . different. patterns. "It's not you. It's me. I had no business knitting for myself with the baby's yarn"

Finally, like chocolate and peanut butter, I put the two together and let the magic happen.


The dpns are in action and I should be finishing up the sleeves this week (which would mean finishing this sweater in a record 2 months!). And yes, that's a wine charm being used as a marker. My plastic child-choking-hazzards frequently slip off and I keep meaning to make my way to Etsy and treat myself to a special set. In the meantime, despite the occasional catching, these do the trick and remind me to "stay...hydrated?".

Things to do in a Week

We are officially catching our breath after...

Summer day-camp spent on the waterfront and exploring some favourite local gardens.


Visiting splash pads here and there on the rare days when we aren't running through raindrops.


Another round of swimming lessons and a 'floaty'-assisted front crawl in the big pool. Very handy if a 'walk-the-plank' Pirate training situation comes up.


Trying very hard to get lost in the occasional maze (and pretending to be very lost just so that a squealing girl can find me).


And a new sock. When a week includes that much running around, some transportable stash-busting is in order.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Cherries

We're heading into the third full week of summer vacation and to my surprise, I'm finding 'no school' and the change in routine to be really relaxing and free.
Summer life - good!

Weather - Still more spring than summer making most days super-comfortable.

Consulting Contracts - At an end giving me an extra four hours a day for summertime play and some long overdue catch-up with a pile of good books.

Kiddos - Have suddenly reached a new level of interaction. They can actually spend chunks of time playing...together...at the same activity. It's amazing (usually short-lived...but amazing no less)!


Knitting - It's been two weeks and I'm still knitting the same pattern. That doesn't sound like much, but it's a pretty big accomplishment considering how many things I've cast-on...and then pulled back apart in recent months. I'm still not ready to tempt fate, but details will make their way here soon.

Lists - Full of wonderful Summer prospects and also getting abandoned for sudden urges...like turning cherries into cake...or finally watching an amazing movie that's been on my list for ages.

Ripping Happens (alot)

Last week I mentioned lack of knitting time. Now it's time for reason #2 behind the absence of knit posting - a string of really bad luck in the gauge department.

Despite swatching, I've been knitting with a sinking feeling that what's on my needles is looking too big. And as much as I was hoping for the best (easier than facing the reality of a whole lot of wasted stockinette) a mid-knit fit check gave me the answer I was afraid of.

There is no way that this...



is ever going to fit like this...

So it's back to the drawing board (aka Ravelry and a stack of magazines), which wouldn't discourage me nearly as much if this wasn't my fourth attempt at knitting something with this same batch of yarn. At this point, I think that a switch-up is in order. Fingers crossed for some success to share in the near future (although it's probably not going to help my gauge issues if I knit with my fingers crossed).

Knit Happens

I know it's been awhile since knitting made it's last appearance in this space. It still happens around here - I promise. Not as often as I would like it to, but I've sort of become reconciled to fact that there are just a lot of daily demands at this stage of parenting and life. And while we ride this out, knitting should be my 'centering' activity, not something to stress or feel guilt over.

So that said, here are a couple of belated objects, made and sent west to a very sweet gal who I've never met but who frequently makes me smile.


I couldn't be happier with the Fetching gloves (unless of course, I was keeping them for myself) and many many more pairs will be knit. Friends and family - speak up now if you want a pair for Christmas. These ones were made with Bernat Cashmere but I also have a few lone skeins of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino that are always calling to me.

The cowl was made using Mel Clarks Diagonal Ribbed Cowl pattern. Knit with Berroco Peruvia the pattern ended up having a bit of a net effect, but I was really happy with the final look. I fell in love with the colourway as soon as I saw this wool, but in the end I actually found it a bit scritchy (hello non-technical term) to work with on this pattern, and probably not as soft as I would have liked. This project has completely tempted me into the world of cowl knitting and I could easily lose an evening browsing patterns and projects on Ravelry; quite possibly the perfect project theme for the hazy lazy days of summer.

Releasing

The last day of school. Big stuff. Very exciting, and inspiring and mildly terrifying.

And then there's the plain old 'shake my head and wonder where the last 10 months went' thing. I think I was more emotional at drop-off today then I was back in September - now I have a five year with a whole year of school under her belt. Say what?

I stole some crafty-brilliance from the always amazing Erin and whipped up coffee cup cozies for Julia's teacher and the special ladies who are her extra pairs of hands (we should all be so lucky). With gift cards hidden away inside the cups Julia loved carrying her tray of secrets into the school yard. Erin's tutorial made this such a quick and truly fun little project and they are addictive once the assembly line begins. It's fun to sew something that causes no frustration and lets you walk away with a finished product in one evening.

And since I've been on a roll and releasing handmade goodness to others, I shamefully sent out a very belated package to another special lady. So embarrassingly overdue (especially since it's been ready to go for about 2 months now). 1 part me rarely making it to the post office + 1 part second guessing what I made since I've never actually knit for anyone outside of this house + 1 part plain old lack of 'get er done'. But hopefully she'll like it and maybe the delay will just add to the surprise! (ha ha)

Pattern details to follow. Right now, this post has given me a wicked coffee craving and the urge to go make summer dream lists.

* Oh, and also on my list for today - Search for my camera card which I recently took from the chewing monster and put somewhere so secret that even I can't find it! A 16MB card and my grainy old camera just isn't working for me.

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Get excited about totally stinkin' cute free patterns for kid knits?

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Totally stinkin' amazing!

New Week

This week is starting out with...

• A new banner. There are times when I find myself spending more time tweeking than posting. It's sort of like moving furniture around instead of cleaning. I think this latest look is going to be around for a while though (famous last words).
  
• A 5K run...complete (36 minutes and 40 seconds). If I managed to squeeze these runs in more regularly they would go a lot faster and hurt a lot less. Goals are important.
• Some knitting after a very long time and several attempts at patterns that just didn't stick. After a few dozen rows I think it's safe to say that I'm back on a roll.
  
• Lots of plans, lots of lists and lots of shopping. June is a big month around here (which will either help or hinder my slacking blog ways).
• From Interweave Knits - Spring 2009

A Space to Stitch (Part III)

Items uncovered as I sort through the closet. Unfinished objects resurface.

The first sweater I knit for myself 3 years ago. More accurately, the parts of the first sweater I knit for myself.

To be fair, I did get around to attaching one of the arms. Unfortunately I attached it upside down, which explains why a 'time out' seemed like a good option at the time (3 years being perhaps, a little excessive).


I'm kinda digging this as a vest though. One way or the other I think I'll finish this object at last.

Limits

Apparently four is mine. Four time I've cast-on and knit the first 6 rows of the St. John's Wort Cardigan from the latest Interweave Knits. Four times I have carefully made every effort to follow the instructions to the letter (including the letters P, K, YO, and K3PSO). Four times I have ended up with a different number of stitches on my circulars after Row 6 (so apparently being careful isn't the same as doing it right).

There won't be a fifth time. It's over between me and the Wort.

So what to make with that yarn instead? I'm heading over to Ravelry for inspiration (where only one other person has St. John's Wort as an active project by the way - hmmm).