Fiber

Grove mittens are bringing me to my knees...

Heather is a good friend of mine - bright, beautiful, funny and generous to a fault. So when Heather recently expressed the desire to have me knit her some mittens or socks? Well, let's just say the door didn't stand a chance of hitting me in the patookus, I ran out the house in such a frenzy to get to the yarn store.

I cast on the Grove Mittens from Made in Brooklyn.

Unfortunately, the mittens were small. Small, small. The mittens might fit my mother (who has such delicate hands that they could be mistaken for a 10 year olds), but they won't fit many others. When I tried them on, I nearly cut off blood flow to my fingertips.

Nonetheless, despite the extremely narrow size, I knit on. I read a few knitting blogs, I read the Grove pattern discussion on Ravelry. People complained about the tightness of the mittens, but for some, blocking was the answer! Yay for blocking!

I finished the left mitten hand and picked up stitches for the thumb. I tried on the mitten again. I looked at how stretched out the mitten was. I knit some more on the thumb and tried on the mitten again. I attempted to tighten up the stitches. I threw the mitten across the room. I picked up the one-row scarf for Jeff's dad and knit on that while the mitten mocked me from afar. I came close to giving it to my cat to play with, but I have the one cat in the universe who cares not a flip about wool.

Part of me wants to finish it, block it and hope for something magical. (Delusional, I know.) I'm just delaying the inevitable frogging. For the the mitten to work as I want, I need a thicker yarn and larger needle. I may be sick to my stomach.

Is anyone out there? I need a pat on the back and maybe a cup of chamomile.

One row scarf, editions 1, 2 and 3...

I've fallen hard for the one row (handspun) scarf pattern by the Yarn Harlot. So hard, in fact, that I barely finished one scarf before casting on two more. Witness:

The pattern is more interesting than generic ribbing or stockinette, yet easy enough to knit in semi-darkness while watching one of your favorite t.v. shows (i.e. Modern Family).

The yarns, from top to bottom photo, are Noro Silk Garden Chunky, Elsebeth Lavold Chunky AL, and Patons Classic Wool. On a side note, this is the first time I'm using Patons, and I'm surprised that it's knitting up rather nicely, since I bought it for a song.

I have more knitting in the works, as well as a few photos of new knitting accessories I received for Christmas (I'm so excited someone actually purchased me some knitting supplies, I can't even stand it), but right now I've got to hop on some work.

Project Update 4 - Mock Cable Socks

Because my cousin, Casey, begged and pleaded and cast herself onto the floor in front of me, I am knitting her a pair of Mock Cable Socks. The pattern is in the book Socks from the Toe Up: Essential Techniques and Patterns from Wendy Knits, which I bought back in the summer during a trip to Oklahoma. I believe I bought it at a cute yarn store in Guthrie, called Sealed with a Kiss, in case you're interested.

In any event, since I'm not one to deny a person the pleasure of knitted socks, I immediately cast on for the socks. I wish I could recall the yarn info (and if anyone recognizes it, please drop me a note), but somewhere along the way I lost the band. It's beautiful stuff, though.

Here's where I admit that I haven't exactly had the greatest luck with toe-up socks in the past. Ahem. I don't know what my malfunction was, but I appear to have conquered it with Judy's Magic cast on (described in the book, as well as on Knitty.com, in a youtube video, and apparently at Sock Summit 2009). Needless to say, it's a method that works well for toe ups. Judy Becker, I love you.

Right now, the foot looks enormous, which has me a wee bit concerned, since I'm pretty sure Casey has cute, dainty little feet, and does not, in fact, secretly sport Sasquatch-sized tootsies.

Project Update 3 - Embossed Leaves Fingerless Mitts

Based on the beautiful Embossed Leaves Socks pattern by Mona Schmidt (published in Interweave Knits, Winter 2005 and again in Favorite Socks: 25 Timeless Designs from Interweave), I knit the socks for my sister. Liking the design so much, I recently decided to use some stash yarn (Cherry Tree Hill supersock DK in Wild Cherry - 1 skein) to create some fingerless mitts.

I've only completed one mitt at this point, but will write up my modifications for the fingerless mitt pattern as soon as I cast on the second and take some notes. The basics, however, involve keeping the two-stranded tubular cast on and finding a tubular bind off to match. I used a twisted stitch ribbing for the cuffs and palm, knit two leaf pattern repeats for the top of the mitt, added a thumb gusset, and separated the pattern repeats from the palm stitching with small swath of purl stitches on each side of the mitt.

Project Update 2 - Green Autumn (Druid Mittens)

I indulged in a little selfish knitting with this project, as the Druid Mittens (pattern by Jared Flood of brooklyntweed) are for my own personal use.

Using Cherry Tree Hill Supersock DK in Water, I cast this lovely mitten on October 18, 2008. To date, I've finished one mitten, having been struck with a dreaded case of startitis (you'll soon see what I mean as I post additional project updates). That being said, however, I intend to finish them before my birthday, so at least they will see some winter use. 

Project Update 1 - Shifting Sands Scarf

Knit for my Aunt Donna's birthday, I believe I finally finished the Shifting Sands Scarf (pattern by Grumperina and available for free here) a mere two months late. Sadly, I did not actually give it to my aunt until mid-2009, because I am so on top of the ball. Sadder still is the fact that I did not take a photo of the completed project, and have only a work-in-progress shot. However, since that's the best I can do, I'll share:

I absolutely loved this pattern.

Making it up as I go along...

I'm trying my hand at designing some rather simple knitting patterns.

The first is what I'm calling the Second Grade Sweater, which I'm knitting for my nephew. He's in first grade now, so I'm giving myself a rather large cushion of time to finish it. Here's a progress shot:

I've started with a German (aka long-tail) cast on. If you are not familiar with this cast on method, here's a nice little video for you from Knitting Help:

For those of you who don't knit, but want to learn, Knitting Help has some wonderful video tutorials. I knit Continental style, i.e. with the yarn held in my left hand. The Continental style is more comfortable for me, since I started out crocheting before learning to knit, but a number of knitters prefer the English Method. Knitting Help has videos for both methods, so feel free to play around with which method suits your style better.

Anyhow, back to the Second Grade Sweater. As I said, I'm starting with rather simple designs. After casting on and joining the yarn for knitting in-the-round, I knit stockinette for 5 rounds, switched to seed stitch for another five, then back to stockinette. That's as far as I've gotten for now.

I'm also working on a pattern I'm calling the Intermittent Sock for my brother. Again, I started with the German/long-tail cast on, only this time I cast onto a needle about 3 sizes larger than the needle I plan to use for the project. This gave the edge a nice, very elastic quality, which makes for a nice fit when worn, obviously, but has the tendency to look a little loose compared to the ribbing when just hanging from the needles. I don't think it bugs me enough to start over, though, and will probably just try to fix with blocking and tightening a few of the looser cast on stitches. Then I substituted my size 2 Addi Turbos (my favorite circulars) and worked a knit 2, purl 2 ribs for approximately 2.5 inches. At that point, I started working in stockinette. I'll work some more on these this afternoon and further develop the pattern. Here's the progress shot:

Hopefully, I'll get a some knitting and pattern work done today and will have more to post tomorrow.

*$@&%^. Toe. Up. Socks.

Okay. I think it's time to switch projects for a while.

I've been trying to learn how to knit socks toe-up, two at a time on two circular needles, which, in theory, is something that shouldn't give me too much trouble. In theory.

Yet after much weeping, cursing and gnashing of teeth, I have just frogged the toe of the Baudelaire socks I'm working on for at least the 10th time. I've got a stabbing pain behind my left eye and fell asleep at 7 o'clock last night, completely spent after trying to figure out why I'm being so unusually thick-headed when it comes to this project.

For the record, I'm using the Sherman Short Row Sock method, which seems to be a miracle toe-up method for everyone who has tried it. Everyone but me, that is.

The first two or three times I began working the toe, I knit the encroachments wrong, not fulling comprehending how the stitches were to work. This tutorial shed light on my problem. Then I had trouble with the with small holes forming on one side of the sock after knitting up the encroachments. I finally worked through that problem, and was nearing the end of the toe, when I inexplicably screwed up the last knit encroachment so badly that I couldn't figure out how to put things back together again, and, in a fit of anger, frogged the whole thing yet again.

Which is why I'm going to be working on this, this and this for a while, instead.

Thinking out loud...

Man, it's getting dark early. At least tonight, (bracing against the nonexistent chill that is November in Texas) I can relax.

Wait. Where's my car? Oh there it is. Thank God. Will you look at that craptastic little doughnut tire. Just one more thing I have to do this weekend. What is that, like the 5th or 6th time I've had to patch or replace a tire this year? It's all that the construction that's been going on around here. I can't go a block without getting a damned nail in my tire.

Well, no need to get worked up over it tonight. It's all about the relaxation, baby. No work, all rest. 

Maybe I'll just run by the bookstore to get the new Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts. I need to get cracking if I'm going to get a couple of caps knit up for Christmas.

Alrighty then, no magazine. Option B. Must. have. this. adorable. little. book.:

Of course, this requires a weekend yarn trip to pick up some yarn for Cowboy:

Funny how those things work in conjunction with one another.

Hey itty-bitty-kitty! Are you glad I'm home? Well, I missed you, too.  (MEEOWWWW) I know. I know. I got here as soon as I could. I promise.  More food? No - look right there - you've still got food in your bowl. (MEEEERRRRRRROwwwwww). I think someone's exaggerating his poor, miserable existence again.  You're just so mistreated.

Jeez. How can it be 8:30 already? Hmmm... perhaps I should blog first - at least then my knitting will be uninterrupted. GAH! Why did I sign up for NaBloPoMo anyway? Maybe I should just take some pictures of my progress on Grace's Cardigan and post those.

Crap. These pictures suck. Maybe they'll be better on a darker background.

Crap. It's 9:54.

I guess this is why my knitting takes forever.

Traitors in our midst...

Some time ago, before the onset of the Texas monsoon season, I ventured to far North Texas to spend the afternoon teaching my aunts and cousins how to knit. Not because I considered myself a knitting aficionado of sorts, oh no. Only because of a phone conversation that went something like this:

Whistling (my ringtone at the time)

Me: Hello.

Aunt Donna: (in a singsong voice) Sssuuuur-priiiissssse! We've decided you're going to teach us all how to knit today!

Me: Okay. (You see how much she had to twist my arm? What? Knit? In a Group? And I'm in charge?!! Well, if you insist...)

I gave everyone a short list of supplies for knitting a simple scarf, snagged some knitting magazines, and grabbed my own knitting project (which I've since ripped and discarded). I managed to accomplish my frantic packing in less than 5 seconds and said goodbye to Jeff in a whirlwind akin to that of the Tasmanian Devil.

Our little knitting party consisted of yours truly, my Aunt Donna, my cousin Casey, my cousin Jeri and my Aunt Bonnie.  Grandma kept a close eye on us, but she's of the crocheting persuasion and so stayed out of the event.  We started with the long tail cast-on, and everyone was so excited.

At first.

Things took a turn for the worse shortly after learning how to make a knit stitch. And then? Oh, the dropping of a few stitches and tears. Everyone seemed ready to ram their knitting needles through their ears, despite my assurances that dropping stitches was a normal part of the learning curve. Jeri was all, "What. Everrrr. Get away from me."

And Oy to the Vey! The purl stitch stirred some sort of hysteria response in the group. (I swear I heard some maniacal laughter.) Poor Aunt Bonnie started mumbling weirdly to herself and hid out in a corner of the living room.

(You DO see all that room on the couch, right?  There was also an empty recliner. I can only surmise she sought the corner for shelter from the madness she saw coming. A madness we in these here parts speak of in a soft whisper.)

Casey.

Aunt Donna tried to ignore the brewing storm.

But then Casey started to snap, and the only way to keep her in check was to guard her closely. Sneaky Pete that she was, she tried to convince us that all was well...

but we didn't fool easily.  Anyone could see those teeth were about to splinter into a million tiny pieces of sand at the slightest hint of a stitch dropping.

So, for the safety of all present, I thought it was best to bring the session to a close. We took some progress shots, and all agreed to practice until we met up at the family reunion in a month's time...

(They were so excited, I think, to be done and saved from Casey's imminent rupture... Personally, I like to think Aunt Bonnie is keeping an eye on her in this picture, afraid to turn her back, if you will.)

Casey, however, actually exhibited the most relief and regained her sanity.

One month later, Aunt Bonnie and Aunt Donna were still knitting, whereas Jeri and Casey conveniently "lost" their needles.

(P.S. Please forgive the blurry bottom corner on these shots - I didn't realize there was a fingerprint smudge on the lens of the camera until later that day).

Bonus for those who made it to the end of this post...