Land o’ Sunshine

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!    This was my knitted birthday present to myself.  Another cupcake.   Despite its frivolous and pointless nature, I love it.   If you have extra yarn I highly encourage you to knit it.    I added the picot edge (gotta love the picot!) and the candle.   0 pts on the WW plan!    

Today is a very special day for America.   I was born on this day, so of course it is SUPER special, but seriously, be sure to say a thank you to the founders of this great country.   Happy birthday America!   You look great for 232 years (though some of our constitutional freedoms are in need of a shine)!  

Thank you to Denise, Anne, and Mandy who made my birthday extra special at knit night and helped get me out of my pity party (or at least made it a table for four rather than one!).   Thank you so much for the wonderful cake.    The cake?   OMG!   Vanilla with strawberries and buttercream frosting (oh the buttercream frosting…).   THANK YOU!!!

Wow.   This blog has been neglected.   I was amazed at the new look on wordpress and the date on my last blog entry.  

Here’s the scoop: 

Summer is here.   It is hot.  Tempers flare around 4pm.  It is never pretty.   There is screaming, crying, slamming of doors, ignoring.   I’ll leave it to your imagination which of those things are me and which are  the kids!   

There has been knitting, though not much.   I’m in a knitting lull (?), duldrom (?).   It has been dishcloths, headbands, and coffee cup cozies.  Projects that can be started and finished quickly.  My bigger projects hang in limbo.   They do not talk to me.  I do not feel guilty about not knitting them.   They are just string (expensive string) with sticks.   Lately, even socks are too much of a commitment.   How crazy is that?

 My birthday is quickly approaching and I think I am having a mid-life crisis.   Ok, so hopefully its not a midlife crisis, but it certainly is a crisis.   It seems as if the world and my little microcosm I live in has gone haywire.   Gas and groceries are super expensive–hello $3.99 a gallon for MILK and GAS?    The election, the economy, my role in the family, and a so many other things seem to be stressing me out.     It seems as if there are more failures in my life (and the world) than positive events.   All of this has made me want to retreat inward and make memories with the kids and my husband.   As I do this however, I find myself getting annoyed with the little things about being a wife and a mother–and not just the laundry either.  

Once upon a time, I thought I would be a great mother–loving, nurturing, all that AP, granola, birkenstock wearing, crunchy stuff.   Now I know, I’m not any of those things.   Yes, of course I love my kids, but when they are 35, what will their memories of me be?   I shudder to think.    What do I remember about my mother?   Little crazy things.  I won’t write them, because I’m sure she doesn’t want the world to know all those crazy stories.   But do I want my kids to have the same memories of me–crazy stories about the wacky, silly, stupid, and lazy things I did when they were growing up?  

How can I contribute to the world and my kids if I don’t even know where I fit into any more?   Outside of the role of Mother, of course.  It is about fitting in and finding what I’m “meant” to do.  

After sitting on beside my knitting spot for almost a month, the MDK Baby Kimono is finished.   The child is now well over 2 months old and there is no way it will fit.   Sunshine Husband took it to work today to give to said child’s father.   The hat will fit.  Small consolation.   I should have knit another Feb. sweater.  Oh well. 

Pattern:  MDK Baby Kimono & Simply Baby Hat

Yarn: Bernat Denim.  I really liked knitting with this yarn.  Comfy stuff.   The look grew on me. 

Needles: US 7 for the Kimono and US 8 for the hat.  

Thoughts:  Love, love, love this hat pattern.   The little stubby umbilical on top is too cute (IMHO).  The kimono pattern was good.  If I make it again, I will make it longer and the sleeves seem a little tight to me.   Hopefully, she doesn’t have chubbo wrists.  I would also put a ribbon tie on the inside.  I should have done this, but I was sick of sewing the ribbon. 

The EZ sweater on two needles (aka February sweater) is complete with the exception of the buttons, which are waiting for payday and some “alone” time at the Hobby Lobby! 

Pattern: Sweater on two needles from Knitter’s Almanac by E. Zimmerman.

Yarn: Vanna’s Choice in pink (??) 1.25 balls.

Needles: US 6

Thoughts:  What a great pattern.  I started last Monday evening and with the exception of the buttons, it is complete.   I had some brain wrangling to do when I started work on the second sleeve, but the simple solution worked the best.   The yarn is growing on me.   I love the colors, but when it is knit up into a garment, it doesn’t feel as soft as it does in the ball.   I am thankful for the TONS of information on Ravelry and the Zimmermaniac site for the insight into the pattern.   I think I would have had a couple of other problems with the pithy directions.    The sleeve looks pretty wide and short, but hopefully, the parents won’t care.   Booties and maybe a hat to follow.  

I have been knee deep in baby knitting during the past two weeks.   My cousin is having a baby and this one is (for a change) a boy!  Hip-hip-hooray!   Baby boy F. is “scheduled” to be in utero for a few more weeks, but his knitting is done and will be making its way to Massachusetts for his mommy’s baby shower.  

Pattern: Elefante

Yarn: Cascade 220 scraps in red, orange, liliac, grey, light blue, and navy.

Needles: US 4 dpns

Thoughts:  This is Eli.  What an awesome knit.   My only modifications were the ears.    I don’t crochet (I don’t know how) and although I could have fidged it, it didn’t seem right.  I used the elephant ears from Last Minute Knitted Gifts and then totally changed them to garter and reduced their size and how they decreased.   There are cuter elefante ears out there, but I’m ok with that.     I hope my coz will forgive the use of a non-masculine color (read: light purple), but it was better than hot pink.  

Pattern: Baby Yoda Sweater

Yarn: Moda Dea Washable Wool in lake blue

Needles: US 8 dpn and circulars (go seamless!)

Thoughts: This worked seemless was awesome.   Next time, I’ll figure out how to pick up the sleeves though.   They seem a bit bulky to me.   I did I-cord for the first time.  WOW, what an awesome little trick that is.  Love, love, love it!   Need some I-cord?  I might have some extra around here….

Pattern: Saarjte’s Booties.

Yarn: Moda Dea Washable Wool in lake blue. 

Needles: US 2 dpns

Thoughts: These booties are actually three of a kind.  Bootie #1 and #2 were not the same size.  I lost track of my row count and that does make a bootie bigger.   Bootie #3 was the correct same size as #1.   These booties are too cute for words.    What is that noise you ask?   It is my ovaries asking for the road to baby-ville.  

Pattern: Sweet & Simple Baby Hat

Yarn: Oh, you know…

Needles: US 8 dpns

Thoughts:  Could my hat problem be fixed?  I hope, though the hat seems  a bit large for a baby’s head.   Simple, quick and, hello, I-cord!   Just as the name implies, sweet & simple!  

I hope she likes these.  She is a non-knitter and I just don’t know.   They have AMAZING oooh and ahhhhh value and I am counting on that with a house full of girls, someone will dress the child in the booties at least (please God, let him get his mother’s small feet!).  

Wow, November 1st was the last time I even looked at WordPress.   There are reasons, most of them not worth the time to write out.   All is forgiven, move on!

Completed objects since last blog:

• Gave Dad his felted slippers.  He says he wears them all the time.   I do believe him.  Gifts of the wearalbe type have been known to languish for YEARS in this man’s closet.   Never one to use a gift before its time, Dad is making me feel good about making this gift. 

• Hats for the men in the family.   ALL OF THEM are too big.   I won’t bore you with the pictures, but here are the deets: variation of the Seaman’s Cap but for giants or least giant sized heads!   Sunshine Dad’s hat has been frogged.   He is coveting one of Mandy’s hats, but he better pray the Giants go to the superbowl in 2009, because there won’t be a Giants hat for him in 2008 (unless he can bribe/beg/plead/pay Mandy to do it!). 
• Angelina Ballerina was completed and given to Sunshine daughter.   Her clothes are a little wacky looking and the slippers are missing, but I love Angelina and hopefully, so does SD.   I used the mouse pattern from Knit2Together and then made the clothes, tutu, and shoes myself. 

• Sunshine son #1’s Wallaby was completed.  It is big, the yarn is pilling and looking particularly craptastic, but he likes it and wears it.   Considering the abuse it gets, the price tag for the yarn–$7.47 for the whole sweater, one big hat, and two mittens with LOTS of yarn leftover–is perfect.  

• My cousin’s baby is due in the next month or so and the Baby Yoda sweater is complete for little Master F. to arrive.   I hope she likes it, because I LOVE it.   Is it normal to be SO enamored of ones handknits???
• Pair of Saarjte’s are finished.   Confession, there are THREE done.  bootie #1 and #2 were not the same size.  Too many garter ridges.   Bootie #3 matches #1, so there is a matched set.  
• The Quinn purse is finally lined.   I used an old pair of jeans and some pick striped fabric for a cell phone and pen pocket.   The handles are bamboo attached with chocolate velvet ribbon.   I love it.   The handles look a bit big, but I don’t care.   The cables came out awesome.   The lining was a witch to get in and no you can’t see the inside (does that say something).   A fellow PTAer said she like the purse, so I’ll take that as a compliment of the highest order.  
• I made another crown for a princess birthday.   Anyone need a crown?  I LOVE making those things.   SO QUICK!!!
• Mini sweaters for the christmas tree.   They were fun and I did each one a little different, but three was enough.   I used my sock yarn samples from Cider Moon and my sockapolooza pal.  The hangers were pipe cleaners chenille stems.  These are my kind of sweaters!!!   :) 

More regular posting, because really, what else have I been doing?   See ya!

My kiddos have been counting down the days to Halloween.    Last night they headed out to beg for candy like a homeless child  Trick or Treat.   Here are the pcitures to prove it.   I should have taken pictures of their haul.  It was amazing.   Sunshine Hubby went to work today armed with a LARGE bowl filled with the peanuty treats (allergies). 

Firefighter, princess, and cowboy all pose for the obligatory Halloween shot.  

I made the costumes. Here’s a breakdown:

Firefighter:  Goodwill ROCKS!   Pants & shirt from there.  Yellow felt from Hobby Lob.   The neck was fiddly, but I love the pants.   The jacket needs something, and I realize today, it needs little fake buckles down the center.  Oh well.   Hat and gloves we own.

Cowboy:  Goodwill for shirt and hat.   Felt from Hobby Lob.  I’m not a fan of the rick rack or the medallion doodads, but hey, he likes it.  Bandana and jeans we own.   

Princess:  Fairy dress from Christmas last year.  Tights and shirt we own.  The wand came from the mother’s morning out dress up box.   The crown, I KNIT!!!   It was a cute and quick freebie from Interweave Knits.   There is a boy and girl version and I don’t remember how I found it.  I started it Monday night and it was finished the next morning.   We added some bling and there it is.  I love it and am tempted to knit more just because they were so fun and quick.  I held my yarn double and knit of US 8s & 6s .  It looks more substantial than the pattern. 

The costumes are now permenant residents of the “dress up box”.   I love how they came out.   I love how they turned out.  Everyone was happy, which is always important.   Now the trick is to keep myself from raiding their Halloween bags!  

Happy Halloween!  

I didn’t go to Rhinebeck. 

Other than knowing that Rhinebeck is in lower NY somewhere, I do not know where Rhinebeck is located.  

So…what’s going on you ask?   Its a contest.   Isn’t it always about a contest?   Take a picture of your stash and GET EXCITED about what you have and all the great things you can knit!    Once you’ve done that, head on over to Girl on the Rocks and let her know all about it. 

Here’s the inventory (yes, this is all I have not included my scraps from completed projects):  

• Essential Tweed from KnitPicks (1)
• Patons self-striping sock yarn (2 + a few little mini balls)
• Cascade Fixation (2)
• Berroco Pure Merino (6)
• Second Time Cotton (1)
• Memories from Knitpicks (2)
• Wool of the Andes Bulky (1)
• A Peice of Vermont sock yarn (1)

So here’s the plan:   The merino is going to become a scarf and I need some of it to finish the Feb. sweater.   Socks, socks, socks, and another pair of socks.   

I saw a cute pattern for a dishcloth set for the second time cotton, but I think I could find something better.  Any suggestions?  

The only one that is giving me trouble is the WOTA bulky.  Is the one sken enough for a hat (110 yds)?  

I have to say I didn’t really “get” Elizabeth Zimmerman the first time I checked Knitting without Tears out from the library.   Ok, before you click away and unsubscribe me from bloglines, let me explain.    The book has no pretty color pictures and neatly placed information about yarn, needles, guage.   EZ requires you to THINK and COMPREHEND your knitting.   Think?   Huh?   I just wanted to knit.   So the book went back to the library with a bewildered shake of the head to why SO MANY PEOPLE were so in awe of her.  

Despite not understanding her placement on the knitting pedestal, I purchased, Knitter’s Almanac.   (Most likely it pushed me over the $25 amount for free shipping.)   The book arrives and I begin to read it.   I GET IT!  

A whole new knitting world was opened.    The first thing I wanted to knit from the book was the February sweater, however, there were no babies due to arrive, so I just longly looked at the pages, wondering who I convince to have a child so I could knit a child a February sweater.   

Then I saw Jenny Check’s Giant Baby Sweater and I knew I had to attempt one for myself.   Well, yarn for the sweater has fallen into my lap and I read, read, and re-read what Jenny wrote.   Read and re-read what EZ said about the original.  Did some knitterly math and I cast on for the grown-up February sweater.  

Isn’t size misleading???   It doesn’t look very large does it?  It is though.   Try this one….

I’m almost where I need to be to divide for the sleeves, however, there is a pattern mistake which will mean doing some ripping back.  

I officially became an EZ fan with the completion of the Hot Ticket sweater.  It was empowering to do such a unique and special sweater.   Would EZ approve of an adult February sweater?    I don’t know, but I am pretty sure she would approve of taking a pattern and yarn and making it my own. 

KNIT ON!

So I did some work on the Leisel scarf last night.   I was “getting it” a little…ok, maybe just the purl side. 

So I do need some help.  The pattern is vague on how long to knit.  Here’s the pattern.  I’ll wait.   (I hate it when bloggers do that.)

So, of course I’m not following the pattern the way it is written.   Here are my modifications:  

                                              pattern                                               my version

• Yarn:              Worsted weight medium yarn               Fingering weight
• Needles:        US 8s                                                          US 5s
• Gauge:           6.5″                                                             5.5″  (unblocked)

I am currently at 26″ in length.   This is unblocked.   It will have to be blocked.  The pattern is unrecognizable in the unblocked state. 

1. Where do I stop?  I have another skein of the yarn–about another 200 yds.  
2. How much will the width increase and my length decrease with blocking? 
3. Is there a “standard” length for lacey scarves?  
4. What to do?   Help a knitter out.