martinimade

actual knitting content: Ms Thing's Mitts

When Maddy saw that I was knitting a scarf for your brother, she decided that it was an injustice that could not be born. So she put in a request for fingerless mittens that "almost cover my pinky." 

The result, which I finished last night:

 

The details: The pattern is Shelia January's Knitted Hand Coverings recipe from the Knitter's Review Retreat 2008. Koigu KPPPM in the evocatively named "P623," which I'd purchased at Purl Soho during the summer to make something for La Diva at some point.  A nice, quick project that the recipient loves, even if this knitter is still not clear on the point of fingerless mittens.

I'm finishing up all of these small projects so that I can clear the decks to start a sweater for myself out of some Beaverslide Dry Goods yarn I got for Christmas. One more little task to go, then on to the selfish knitting.

actual knitting content: warm ears

This was not a glamorous project. It was, however, a necessary one.

Six-ish years ago, we experiences our first Oneonta winter. We survived - but, at times, it was a near thing.* During that winter, I knitted an earwarmer for the Hub. I was a novice knitter then, my enthusiasm made up for my lack of skill. The silly thing, which the Hub wore, was always too narrow. He'd come in from the cold with the tops and bottoms of his ears bright pink and well-nigh frozen.

Last week, I made one Hub very happy by knitting a New! and Improved! earwarmer:

 

(Those who know the Hub will be shocked by this picture. While I was in the 'burgh, he shaved off his beard*** and cut off all of his hair. I'm still adapting.)

For my own records: I knit it out of a ball of Valley Yarns Northfield, which I was gifted with at a KR Retreat. I used US 6 needles and cast on 32 stitches**, then did 1x1 rib until it was 23" inches long. Did a three needle bind-off rather than Kitchener because I was lazy.

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* I've now reached the point where I enjoy winter, for the most part. The past few weeks of sub-25F temps are getting to me a little lately but it will pass. 

** Note to self: if you ever make this again, do a provisional cast-on rather than a long-tail. Picking out that first row of stitches was a royal pain in the arse.

*** (thanks Matthew)

actual knitting content: a pretty thing

Over the break, I made a Pretty Thing from some Still River Mill cashmere I picked up at Rhinebeck.

 

The only mod I made is adding an extra 17 stitch repeat because my head is bigger than Stephanie's. I don't think I needed it but wanted to be on the safe side. The best parts are how little this soft, pretty thing ways and how warm it is. Yum.

As a bonus, I have enough yarn leftover to make at least two more. Total win.
 

actual knitting content: shawlette

I've had some time on my hands, which means that I was planted on the couch finishing UFOs while the Boy watched Spongebob. And, so, Multnomah:

 

The art shots:

 

 

My helper during the art shots:

 

The deets: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Mediumweight in Froggin purchased from The Fold at Rhinebeck 2009. Size 5 needles. Took maybe two weeks to knit? Something like that. Quickish and satisfying. 

On a completely different note, I'd usually save this for a many things post but I'm not certain how long the link will work. The River Valley guy is placing his ads in the local almost-daily again. I was worried about him. Nice to know he's still f'king that chicken....

actual knitting content: more mitten fail

First, the good news. These mittens* are a real pair, that is there is a left mitten and a right mitten. Wonders will, in fact, never cease.

The bad news: the ribbing effect is completely unintentional (and annoying) because I can't seem to get my tension right when doing stranded knitting on double-pointed needles. Le sigh.

 

Unlike the last pair of mittens, which are still on the shelf of shame, these will be worn by me all winter because they are warm. I will do my best to ignore my failings and encourage you to do the same, should you see me wearing them. 

One day, I'll get it right. But that day is not today.

* Details: Double-Thick Mittens designed by Adrian Bizilia from Clara Parkes' Knitters Book of Yarn. I used leftover Shetland Spindrift in "Purple" (2 skeins) and "Yellow Ochre" (1 skein) from my Mary Tudor. 

and so, Rhinebeck

Another Rhinebeck has passed. Still fun, mind, but I noticed a distinct lack of singing/rapping restroom attendants. Maybe I just picked the wrong stalls?

 

Got to see quite a few folk who I only run into once per year but who I blogstalk on a regular basis. I didn't spend much this year. I have enough yarn right now and don't need to acquire mass quantities. I did, however, buy Clara's new book and some Heal My Hands, which is fabulous. As is Clara's new book, natch.

I did have to buy just a *little* yarn, mind. 

 

Some Still River Mill pure cashmere, which I think will become a Smoke Ring of some sort, possibly with beads.

And some Mediumweight Socks that Rock in Froggin', which McGregor has adopted as his own.

actual knitting content: scarf FTW

Sometimes, you just need a project that is quick and easy:

Noro Striped Scarf a la Jared Flood. I only used two skeins of Silk Garden (color #258 and #270), which makes for a shortish but usable scarf. I *heart* the colors, tho, and will probably make another one eventually because it is easy and satisfying. 

And, for your enjoyment, McGregor, who we seem to just be calling Greg:

You woke me up to take a picture of a scarf?

I bat my paw at you. Eh.

And, yes, I appear to be turing into one of those people who anthropomorphizes her cat. Send help.

actual knitting content: mitten fail

It's never a good sign when you start a project 4 times because you can't get gauge. It's even worse when you can't block the colorwork into something that doesn't look all weird.* It should look like this.

The realization that you have made a serious error and knitted two right hand mittens that are fugly, however, is priceless.

These bad boys have been stuffed in the closet of knitterly shame so that they can have a good long think about what they have done, because I am just over them.

In the success department, I did finish my Socks that Rock "Korppi" socks, which I mostly worked on during the kids' swimming lessons this year. 

Nope, not sexy at all. But are functional and, you know, socks.

The color is kinda cool, tho. Not black-black but a black mixed with greens and purples.

Oh - and this is just too good to wait for a "many things" post:  Picture of the week.

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* I blame this on the yarn. Superwash sock yarn seems like to slippery a choice for colorwork. Also, the blue would have worked better if it were a more solid blue. In my opinion, natch.

actual knitting content: the glamour shots

Since this particular eagle has landed, it's tale can now be told. The sekrit project was a moderne baby blanket from M-D's first book.

Here it is, blocking in my bathtub:

And reclining over the stair rail:

 

And showing off its wrong side on the window seat:

The yarn is Debbie Bliss Cashmerino -- did I mention that this is a gift for one of my best friends who is having her first baby and that I was willing to spare no expense because she's also a knitter? -- The pattern you know. I did it mostly as written, except for an added stripe of a different purple when I ran out of the purple it should have been. 

It's a charmingly lovely pattern and all that garter stitch was exactly what I needed during the early part of the summer. Picking up stitches for the next block provides enough interest to keep you going, even though those last few rectangles, which are huge, can be a bit of a drag. I have no idea how the Harlot got through a grown-up sized moderne. My needles salute her.

And now we -- and by "we," I mean "I" -- enter that waiting-for-the-baby phase. Sadly, T-wa, the mom-to-be, is in Pittsburgh and I am not. Still, there are planes and I will get there to offer support and snuggles in addition to hand-knits. 

actual knitting content, Diva hat

I finished my sekrit knitting project last week. I celebration, I cast on for a new hat for Maddy. A few days later, I had this:

Please ignore the stain on her shirt. I'm not sure what that is. Oh, and that other front tooth fell out hours after this. She handed it to me in the bathroom at McDonald's. I'm just glad it was hers.

Knitted from Classic Elite Lush, which is a 50/50 blend of wool and angora, in "Princess Pink." The pattern is this one. I used the adult pattern specs but a worsted weight yarn. My first try was too small. Adding four extra stitches between the earflaps in both the front and back did the trick.

Annnnnd, because I can't resist, another sekrit project picture:

 

Any guesses now?