More birthday socks

So far, I am liking my plan to knit birthday socks instead of xmas socks.  Three down and one to go for 2011.

Pattern:  Retro Rib Socks, by Evelyn A. Clark
Yarn:  Fortissima Socka Degradee Color in blues
Needles:  US1
Modifications:  none

I like these socks and the pattern, although I tired quickly of the K2TBL's.  Since the ribbing is stretchy, the tops are knit the same for both sizes, then the foot is a bit bigger for the large size.  These should fit my son, aka Big Foot, just fine.

Summer slumber sack

Sorry for the long silence.  Once I recovered from my cold, I went on a business trip, and while I could have blogged using my work computer, after being on it all day, I was not so inclined in the evenings.  Before I left on the trip, though, I finished this summer slumber sack for my granddaughter.

Pattern:  My own

Yarn:  Valley Yarns Valley Superwash DK, in four colors

Needles:  US6 (for main part of body) and US5 (for the bodice) circs

What makes this a summer slumber sack is the absence of hood and sleeves and the addition of open work in the chest area.  Hopefully, this will ward off AC chill but not be overly warm.  Another good feature is it is open at the bottom, facilitating diaper changing.  I put ribbing at the bottom and below and above the diaper area, but I'm not sure it will make much difference.  Also, I trimmed the neck and armholes with applied i-cord, to prevent them from getting overly stretched out.

When I first put this on Baby N to take the above photo, she fussed and protested, but once she saw the camera, the smiles came out.  What a diva!

Nothing to see here, folks

Just checking in to let you know I am still alive and almost over my cold.  I would have some knitting to show, but I have been reworking the bodice on the summer slumber sack over and over and OVER again.  Since all my mistakes may be due to illness and/or OTC medications, I decided to give the knitting a rest for a few days.  Instead, I watched all three Stieg Larsson movies.  It's difficult to knit while reading subtitles.  BTW, I thoroughly enjoyed the movies, but they are not for the squeamish.

I hab a code

Little girls may be made with sugar and spice and everything nice, but when they are not quite 6 months old, they don't know to cover their mouths when they cough or to sneeze into the crook of their arm or to wash their hands regularly.  Hence, my cold, courtesy of my granddaughter.  She seems to not only be a new vector for infectious diseases, she also mutates the germs into something my immune system can't cope with.  This is the worst cold I have had in a long time.  That's the bad news.

The good news is I am not too sick to knit.

Here is the bottom portion of the new sleep sack my daughter requested for Baby N.  I want to try it on the baby before finishing the top.

Here are the birthday socks for my son.  The gussets are done, so it should be (relatively) smooth sailing to the toes.

Even Belinda has gotten some attention.  The pink yarn is much easier to see, so I can work on this even when the lighting is not perfect.

The only thing being totally neglected is the Danish shawl.  I would not mind wrapping up in that today, to ward off the chills.

While knitting, I listened to Poser: My Life in Twenty-three Yoga Poses, by Claire Dederer.  Initially, I found this book to be mildly entertaining, but there are nuggets of wisdom scattered throughout.  Next up on the audio book list is The Pioneer Woman:  Black Heels to Tractor Wheels.  I also downloaded a Sherlock Holmes to my Nook, in part because I have never read any Arthur Conan Doyle, in part to see if I like listening to books on my eReader.  And it was one of the few books available through the local library that could be checked out immediately AND comes in MP3 format.

Now, time for a nap.

Breaking news

I have managed to stab myself with a knitting needle, so I know how sharp they can be.  Hope we hear the rest of this story.  Maybe a riot at an LYS with good yarn at cheap prices but low inventory?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_knitting_needle_stabbing

It's my daughter's fault

The sleep sack I made for my granddaughter has had a lot of use this winter.  Not only does Baby N sleep in it, she travels in it.  And she has not yet outgrown it.

Now my daughter wants a summer sleep sack for Baby N, more like a long jumper, to keep her warm in their air conditioned house while she sleeps.  And what knitter can resists a special request and/or the invitation to start something new?  Not me.  I'm combining some patterns and adding my own ideas to the mix, to come up with a solution, one that does not include a draw string or buttons at the bottom, because Baby N now can do this:

So progress on current projects may grind to a crawl.  Here is the status of those soon-to-be-neglected projects:

I am over halfway done with Belinda, as evidenced by the change of colors above.  The going will be slow, however, because I am now working 208 stitches per row.  Also, I prefer to knit KidSilk Haze on straights, so every one of those 208 stitches has been crammed onto one needle.  KSH is light weight, but having all those stitches on one needle can still cramp one's style.  Or hands, as the case may be.

I'm plodding along on the Danish shawl, which like many lace projects, doesn't look like much right now.  I'm anxious to get the bottom border done so I can move onto the body, which is mostly garter stitch.  Theoretically, that part should fly.

The current pair of socks feels like it is dragging, which I blame on the K2TOG's.  Otherwise, I would be cruising on these.  I like the resulting pattern, plus this is my portable project, so it shouldn't get totally neglected.

These not-quite-springlike gray and rainy days are perfect for knitting, were it not for the need to earn a living.  Stupid job.

Dithering

Last night I inspected the work-so-far on the Danish shawl and decided it's not anything a firm blocking won't correct.  So I am NOT starting over.  At least, not today.  Check back tomorrow.

Still wrong

It wasn't the slipped stitches that made the border points on the Danish shawl list to the left; it was the bind off.  Not wanting to take the current work off the circular Addi needles, I worked up a few points on straights, just to see if binding off more loosely would help.  Not only did it make the points straight, I liked the resulting lace better, too.  Usually I think of needles as being interchangeable sizewise, but not in this case.

SO... maybe I will start over.  *sigh*

Wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong.

I was wrong about the second half of the Danish shawl border being ssk's instead of k2tog's.  I was also wrong not to take seriously the instruction about keeping the slipped stitch very loose, which is why the points slant.  This would not be so bad if I could figure out how to get the points on the second half to slant in the opposite direction.  The shawl is taking a brief time out while I contemplate and experiment and see what I can do.  One thing I know I am NOT going to do is start over.

Another pair of birthday socks found their way onto the needles, Retro Rib from Favorite Socks.  I have only one skein of yarn to knit a man-sized pair of socks.  This pattern is only 64 stitches around, but they are stretchy stitches, so I decided to give it a try.  Unfortunately, over 50% of those stitches are purl, and a good many of the remaining are ktbl.  Not difficult, just annoying.

Then I purchased Mitered Crosses Blanket Pattern for Japan, because I like the idea of creating a knitted blanket from a quilt pattern and it's pretty and it's big and the money goes to a good cause.  I completely forgot that I don't particularly like to knit mitered squares.  Oh, well, it was only $5.

Birthday socks #2

I was afraid these would be too loose from the YOs, so I knit through the back loop when knitting the YOs. Then I was concerned they would not be loose enough! 

Pattern:  Bluebell Rib (six-stitch sock pattern) from Sensational Knitted Socks
Yarn:  Schoeller+Stahl Fortissima Socka Degradee Color, colorway 104
Needles:  US1
Modifications:  None, except to knit the YOs through the back loop.

They turned out fine sizewise, but the “bluebells” look like bluebells only to the wearer; to others, they will look like tulips.


In case you were wondering, I am still working on Belinda.  I am almost halfway done!

And I am halfway done with the bottom border of the Danish shawl:

The second half of the border uses ssk's instead of k2tog's, so I should have an easier time of it regarding the splitty yarn.  Thank goodness!

Because I'm (half) Danish

My mother's parents emigrated to the US from Denmark, which in my eyes makes me half Danish.  When my mother's brother converted to Catholicism, I went around telling people I was "half Catholic" (I was about ten at the time).  While I was told that was not accurate, no one really explained why.

Because of my Danish "heritage" I always chose Denmark as the subject of history reports, lorded over my friends the fact we opened our xmas gifts on xmas eve, and periodically bugged my mother to teach me to speak Danish.  As an adult, I am drawn to Danish films and knitting.  So when I stumbled across the

Kællingesjal shawl, I had to knit it.

Starting out the border

The shawl dates from the late 1800's.  Mette Rørbech created her "recipe" for this shawl based on one she saw in a museum.  The yarn I am using is some alpaca I purchased at a fiber arts festival from Weavers Loft, yarn I now realize was designed for weaving and not for knitting.  It comes in 8-oz. hanks and is single ply with little twist, which makes it split easily.  The k2tog's are particularly vexing.  But the good news is only the borders are lace; the body of the shawl is garter with stockinette and reverse stockinette bands.  And I like to think the yarn is similar to yarn used 100 years ago - a little roughly spun.  At least, that is what I tell myself each time I have to rework a k2tog, which is almost every one. 

No FOs but she looks good in green

The February Baby sweater and pants:

But I was born in October!

From the back:

Check out the hair!

The full ensemble:

Any more photos and you will have to call my agent!

And who can resist that smile?

Grandma is SO funny!

Birthday socks #1

After xmas, I decided that this year I would knit birthday socks for the usual suspects, then at xmas present everyone with felted slippers.  First birthday is in April, but these are done now, so happy early bday, son-in-law!

Pattern: Twin Rib - one of the 6-stitch rib patterns from Sensational Knitted Socks
Yarn: Fortissima Socka Degradee Color in colorway 102
Needles: US1
Modifications:  None

The photo above does not do justice to the subtle color gradations.  The yarn is a blend of wool, bamboo, and nylon, which should be comfortable even in warm weather.  It's a nice yarn to work with, too.

Quandry resolved

I knit up a Spiral Tweed Cloche with the remaining skein of Laughing Tree Farm yarn and did not need to steal yarn from the snood, so the latter will be added to the gift drawer while I wear the former.

Pattern:  Spiral Tweed Cloche by Veronik Avery (published in Knitting 24/7)
Yarn:  Laughing Tree Yarn 50/50 3-ply
Needles:  US8 and US7
Modifications:  None, except the pattern calls for some internal ribbon to help shape the cap, plus a big button as decoration, neither of which I have employed.  Yet.

Kromboomssloot quandry

I knit up a Kromboomssloot Snood in just a few days, BUT.  I discovered that this is not a good look for me.  It looks better on my daughter, but she declared it not her style.  I used only half the yarn I designated for this project, so now I am contemplating what to do with the rest and whether I should frog the snood if I need the yarn.  Meanwhile, I won't block it yet.

Pattern: Kromboomssloot Snood from Knitting Brioche
Yarn:  Laughing Tree Farm 3-play in chocolate
Needles:  US7 (for ribbing) and US10.5 for Kromboom Tuck stitch
Modifications:  none

Happiness is a new pair of socks

Mondays are not my best days.  My weekends are too enjoyable, I guess.  What would make me feel better on this gray day?  Orange socks, of course!

 

Pattern:  Undulating Rib Socks, by Ann Budd (from Favorite Socks)

Yarn:  Plymouth Yarn Zino, in ? (can't find the ball band)

Needles:  US2 and US1 DPNs

Modifications:  For some reason, the arithmetic in the pattern did not quite work for me, so I made some modest modifications to center the pattern over the foot.

I have a vague memory of trying this pattern once before, without success, but I love this result.  And while I think the colorway is gorgeous, I did not like knitting this single ply yarn.  Too splitty, especially when worked off the outside of the skein.  There are plenty of beautiful yarns out there, so I see no sense in knitting one this cantankerous.

What the ? part II

It was time for a new ball of Kid Silk Haze for Belinda, but the ball I fetched was all haze, no silk.

Of course, no ball band, or none that did not say "Kid Silk Haze" on it.

What is maddening is wondering where this came from.  I don't remember buying a ball of roving that was the same color and size as the Kid Silk Haze.  Could there have been a mix-up at the point of purchase?  I am baffled.

Zandloper

I like knitting scarves.  Or, more accurately, I like knitting the first half of scarves.  After that, it becomes a death march.  This Zandloper was no exception, except I also worried about running out of yarn, so once I neared the finish line, I weighed each skein after each pattern repeat, to make sure I had enough for another pattern repeat.  I did not achieve 13 repeats, but at 60 inches, I think it is long enough.

Pattern:  Zandloper Scarf by Nancy Marchant, from Knitting Brioche.
Yarn:  Patons Classic Wool Merino in "Bright Red" and Plymouth Yarns Galway in "9" (black)
Needles: US7 circs
Modifications:  None on purpose.

This was my first brioche project, my first Italian cast on, and my first Italian bind off; I'm not sure I did the latter correctly, but (with the help of YouTube) managed a facsimile.  Brioche creates a double knit stitch which I anticipate will be warm if a bit bulky.  Learning to follow a brioche pattern is like learning a new language, but fortunately one with a limited vocabulary.  The instructions in the book are very complete (even if I could not figure out the Italian bind off from them).

I already have the yarn for four more brioche projects:  Kauni for the Geveldak Scarf and Wissel Scarf, Laughing Tree Farm for the Kromboomssloot Snood, and Plymouth Encore for the Oor-flap Muts (earflap hat).  But before casting on any of those, I want to finish a few baby things.  Really.

The unknown kimono

Sometimes I knit and knit and knit some more, but then completely forget that I have knit something.  Two somethings, actually, from the same pattern, but different.  I did report the one; here is the other:

Pattern:  One-Piece Baby Kimono, from Mason-Dixon Knitting
Yarn:  I forget - I think it is Sugar 'n Cream, in white
Needles:  I forget - US6 or US7
Modifications:  Instead of ribbon, I made the ties from Sugar 'n Cream in "Pastel Print".  I would not recommend this, as the result is similar to a cotton clothesline.

Kimono #1 was knit in stockinette; #2 in garter.  Number 1 has ties; #2 has buttons.  Otherwise, they are the same.  My daughter passed on these, so into the gift drawer they go.

Ugg

It seems like I knit and knit and knit some more, but never finish anything.  But I have at least one thing to show you:

Pattern:  Suede Baby Hat by Candi Jensen
Yarns:  Berroco Suede (brown) and Berroco Plush (white) - I'm not a fan of novelty yarns and knitting with Plush was like wrestling a lhasa apso, but the results are cute
Needles:  US6
Modifications:  There were comments on Ravelry about how large the hat was, so I measured Baby N's head and decreased the pattern by about 10%.  Also, I knit it in the round instead of flat; picked up stitches to knit the ear flaps and brim instead of knitting them separately and sewing them on; and the ties are i-cord.

I was hoping to get a pic of this hat in situ, but haven't had the chance yet.

Sock knitting is going on as well.

This is the Zino yarn that many Ravelers dislike.  The colors are gorgeous, but yes, the yarn is splitty.  I won't say I'll never knit with it again, but I doubt I will choose it willingly.

And speaking of sock yarn, there is a sale going on over at Simply Socks.  I am only telling you because I have already placed my order.

What the ?

I backordered this Kauni 8/2 from Webs, both in colorway EQ ("rainbow").  It arrived yesterday.  My first thought was, This is not what I ordered, but yes, they are both EQ.

But what really has me flummoxed is one skein is 180g and the other 130g when they are both supposed to be 150g.  Is this common?  Good thing this issue should not affect the projects I bought these for.

Another yarn story:  I ran out of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino in chocolate, but found some at a LYS.  When I started pulling the yarn out of the center-pull skein, a mini center-pull ball popped out.  My guess is it was a return.  I debated whether weighing the skein would just make me madder, but I did and it was 50g as it was supposed to be.  My guess is someone needed a yard or two of yarn, then returned the rest to the store.  No real harm done, but this is something I never do.  I just add the skein to my stash.

I executed my plan on the baby sack and now my granddaughter can wear it in her car seat.

Sort of.  Even though I made the smaller version of the pattern, the sack has plenty of room for growth.

The plan

When I knit the baby sack, I did not take into consideration that baby doesn't go anywhere without a car seat.  And car seats have buckles.  Buckles that the Baby Sack does not accommodate.  Which meant the baby sack was not be utilized much.

So, taking a clue from Baby's First Entrelac (from Entrée to Entrelac), I decided to add a slit for the car seat buckle.  Baby's First Entrelac uses a three-needle bind off, but I tried out Elizabeth Zimmermann's afterthought pocket, without the pocket.

Of course, I did not try this on the baby sack itself.  Instead, I knit up a sample with some left over acrylic.

The bottom edge of the slit is i-cord bind off.  Once the ends are woven in, the edges will hopefully withstand tugging and pulling.  I think I will give the flap an oval shape.  This slit will be in back, as the car seat buckle should fit between the bottom two buttons on the front just fine.

Now I just need to get up the nerve to snip a stitch on the baby sack to get this going for real.  Cutting into knitting just seems wrong.

Last day of xmas...

... and the last pair of xmas socks are done.

These really are the same size

Pattern:  Jaywalkers by Grumperina
Yarn:  Cascade Yarns Sassy Stripes in 715 colorway
Needles:  US1 DPNs
Modifications:  Made the leg about an inch longer than the pattern calls for

Now.  Priorities.  I need to finish up some baby knitting before that darling grandbaby grows any more.

First FO for 2011 (sort of)

Most of the work for this wrap was accomplished in 2010, but I don't consider an object truly done until it has been blocked.

Mr. Manly models

Pattern:  Moebius Ring by Elizabeth Zimmermann
Yarn:  Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Bulky, in sable and creme
Needles:  US11
Modifications:  What is there to modify?  It's 60 inches of garter with applied i-cord

This started out as a vest, but after using one skein I realized I would not have enough yarn, so decided rather abruptly that it should be a scarf/wrap/whatever instead.  That meant I had to pick apart the cast-on in order to graph the two ends together.  My garter grafting is not the best - I have yet to get the tension right - and marrying the two ends of the i-cord took several tries before I was satisfied.  That is why it did not get completed last year.

Two comments, one good, one not so good:  1) The wrap is surprisingly warm for not covering much of one's body.  2) The Lamb's Pride sheds.

Speaking of warm, the red, red, red sweater has become my under-the-winter-coat sweater for walking.  It's very warm.  Too bad it does not look very good on me.  And I never have reknit the collar - I think a V-neck would be an improvement.

And speaking of yarn, while looking for a sock pattern for the Zino, I discovered the yarn has generated many negative comments on Ravelry.  I've never used it before, so we shall see if I agree with its listed shortcomings.

2010 recap

What I knit (or at least, finished) in 2010:

• My SO's xmas socks (he has yet to receive this year's socks)
• A blue BSJ (still up for grabs)
• Purple socks 
• A cowl I have yet to wear or gift
• Red socks
• An Every Way Wrap 
• A nine-patch dishcloth (scroll down)
• A garterlac dishcloth
• Lime and gray socks (scroll down)
• A mistake rib scarf
• Pinkish-purpleish socks
• A runner for the back of my running toilet
• A winter set in toddler size
• Pink infant socks (which are too small already!)
• A reversible baby hat
• A BSJ in pinks (with matching infant socks)
• A pink and purple BSJ
• A Clapotis
• A plethora of February Baby sweaters and leggings (three sweaters, two leggings)
• Orange and yellow socks
• A brown and green baby blanket
• A baby sack
• A green infant hat
• An aqua baby blanket
• A pink infant hat
• A purple infant hat
• Red, black and gray socks
• A bog jacket (yay me!)
• Gloves
• Red and navy socks

Whoa.  That's a lot of knitting.  If my counting is correct, it amounts to:

• 8 pairs of adult socks and 2 pairs of infant socks
• 1 adult sweater and 6 baby sweaters
• 1 cowl, 1 adult wrap, 1 adult scarf, 1 toddler scarf, 1 baby sack, 2 baby blankets
• 2 dishcloths and 1 runner
• 5 baby hats
• 1 pair of adult gloves and 1 pair of toddler mittens

I have no knitting resolutions this year, other than use more yarn than I buy.  I would like to finish up at least some of the long-standing WIPs, but don't hold your breath.  SOME DAY, when I have more time, I hope to learn to spin, but for right now, I will just keep knitting.