Under the Weather

I have had a bad cold all week. Finally, Saturday I decided to give in and spend the day on the sofa watching the Olympics.

One Superscarf is completed. I made this a basic garter stitch scarf, changing colors every six inches. Garter stitch is actually kind of fun even if boring. With my eyes watering and blowing my nose every other row, I could still knit without looking.

Next on this list is to crochet a top. I’m using neutral colors and I have no idea what I’ll wear with it.

Before starting on the “Challenge Project” I still have to vest to knit. Unlike Julie and Julia, I am not going to set a deadline. For me that would be too stressful. I still have Christmas presents to make, Superscarves, charity projects, and things for my booth this summer.

I'm Getting There!

One more Christmas gift is finished – eight more to go. There isn’t a picture posted because someone might see what they are getting.

The super scarf project has been started (see picture). I still have a top and a vest to finish before I start my challenge project.

The list of books to use for my challenge has been narrowed down to a book of purses and bags and a book of sweaters. Both will offer me a challenge with the various techniques and yarn suggestions.

I have the start of a bad cold today, so not much knitting will be done.

What To do?

This blog was originally started in order to write about my crochet and knit journey. It seems I’ve run into a dry spell—not that I’ve haven’t been making anything, but I have not really done anything worth writing about. It seems I need a project.

Last week I watched the movie “Julie & Julia”. Julie blogged about cooking her way through a cookbook. Maybe I need to crochet and knit my way through a pattern book. Which book? I have many choices on my bookshelf.

Afghans are out of the question, they take too long. The patterns need to be quick and offer new techniques. To make it more interesting, I could use the suggested yarn. That would get me to try different types of yarn.

There is plenty of time to decide. I have Christmas presents to make (13 total gift receivers, 3 down 10 to go); I have volunteered to make scarves for Super Bowl 2012 (have until November 2011 to get as many done as I can as they need 8000); there are things I need to make for a booth at an art fair this summer; and I have yarn for a couple of sweaters, I’d like to start this “journey” without UFOs.

If anyone is reading, I’m open for ideas.

Pretty Vest

Aleita Shell, designed by Bonne Marie Burns, Interweave Knits Spring 2008

Yarn: Knit Picks Shine Sport, Serano

I love this pattern! The body is knitted in the round and the shoulders are the only seams. So easy and quick to make.

There aren’t many changes I would make.

1) I would take out the waist shaping. The shell looks alright on, but at my age I just don’t have a waist to shape a sweater to.

2) I would make it longer. My belly, which has been pregnant a few times, has a tendency to hang out with these short sweaters. Wearing something underneath helps, but I feel sloppy having my shirt tail out. That feeling I am sure is a result of upbringing.

3) I would use a different yarn. Knit Picks has always been my yarn of choice, but this time I was a little disappointed. They yarn had knots and splices all through it – all six skeins. I do love the color and I’m not giving up on Knit Picks; I will probably just not use Shine for a sweater.

My next project is a pair of socks. I tried an intricate lace and cable toe-up sock pattern that just didn’t work for me. The foot fit wonderfully so I went ahead and knit the heel and halfway up the leg. When I tried the sock on again, I couldn’t get it over my ankle. I’m sure I did something wrong as this is my second attempt at the toe-up socks. My first pair was also tight but wearable. Last night was spent frogging then casting on for traditional cuff-down socks. I’ll try toe-up again when I can find a class.

Go Colts!

It's Cold Outside!

Lacy Hooded Scarf, designed by Jodi Snyder, Cast On August – October 2009.

Warm Stripings Glove-Mittens, designed by Christine L. Walter, Creative Knitting January 2008.

I finished this project just in time. The weather widget on my computer says it is a whole 9 degrees outside!

These patterns were very easy and made from KnitPicks Andean Silk in Hyacinth. I absolutely love this yarn! It is a blend of superfine alpaca, silk, and merino wool. So soft and warm. One thing to keep in mind with this yarn is that my stitch gauge was a bit loser than normal. That's alright; I can fold back the border on the hood and have even more warmth. Hmmm… I foresee presents of Christmas future.

For 2010 I decided to purge some of my patterns. It was a week long project full of, “Do I really need this?” It was tough, and I had to be brutally honest with myself. My workroom was overflowing with pattern books and magazines that I looked through maybe once. Never fear. I still have plenty of patterns left and now room for more.

In the works are a vest and socks. Stay tuned…

A Better Year

Shortly after my last blog, my mother passed away. A few months later, my great nephew also passed. Add to that the passing of my aunt and uncle earlier in the year, the holidays have not been a good time for us. I knit and crocheted my way through my grief and hopefully with the start of the new year, my family and I can find hapiness again.

In honor of my mother and mother's everywhere, I am re-posting an earlier blog. Have a safe a joyous 2010 and remember to tell your loved ones as often as possible, that you love them .

My Mother's Hands

I remember as a child watching my mother crochet. The slim silver hook darted in and out of the thread stitches, like a humming bird retrieving the nectar from a flower. I could watch her for hours creating beautiful doilies, afghans, and clothes for my dolls. Just like a bedtime story, I would lean on her left shoulder and eventually fall asleep.

When Mother felt I was ready, I was ten years old, she put a hook and yarn in my hands. There was no stopping me. I made my own doll clothes, scarves, and ponchos. I branched out to knitting, embroidery, macramé, and various types of lace making. Everyone I knew – family and friends – all had something I made just for them.

I grew up and made baby sweaters and blankets for my own babies. Mother beamed and bragged with each one of my creations. That was when I noticed she had stopped crocheting, but with two children of my own and a full time job, I never questioned why she had stopped.

One day, Mother said she wanted to crochet. We went to the store, bought plenty of yarn in her favorite color of purple, found an easy afghan pattern, and dug out a hook from my stash.

My heart broke when she held the hook in one hand, the yarn in the other, and gave me a helpless look. She could not remember what to do! She could not make sense of the pattern. We spent an afternoon learning how to crochet. The next day she once again forgot what to do. We decided that her arthritic hands could not hold a hook anymore. I took everything home with me, ripped out all she had done, and made the afghan for her.

Mother still has that afghan. It rests at the end of her bed at the nursing home. Mother would look at it and admire the handiwork of the person who made it.

Now, Mother does not notice much of anything. You see, she has Alzheimer’s disease. She spends her days and nights sleeping or staring at nothing in particular. Her hands set on her lap, occasionally moving. I like to think she is crocheting.

During my last visit with her, I looked at her gnarled and arthritic hands, remembering those days of watching her crochet. Then I looked at my hands and at my daughters’ hands. Three sets of hands that continue the legacy of my mother’s hands.

Poop Bag Dispenser

We have two dogs with questionable lineage. Amos and Sadie are our constant source of entertainment and, sometimes, frustration. One day last week, I had a sweater on the blocking board safely (I thought) placed on the dining room table. My husband and I went to a baseball game. When we arrived home after the game and walked throught the back door into the dining room, the blocking board and towels were still there, but no sweater. We found my sweater balled up on the floor covered with dog hair. I know it is circumstantial evidence, but I figure Amos jumped up on the table and got the sweater down, then Sadie rolled in it. They both like wet towels and I guess they couldn't resist the dampness and the slight wet wool smell of the sweater. Lucky for Amos and Sadie, I was able to salvage the sweater.

Amos and Sadie also like to take walks. All we have to do is jangle the leashes and they start prancing and barking at the back door. We are responsible dog owners and always take a bag with us to pick up the messes they leave around the town.

One day my husband asked me if I could come up with something to store the plastic bags we collect from various stores. At that point, the bags were stuffed into another bag and hanging from a hook.

Voila! Poop Bag Dispenser! And a way to use up worsted weight yarn.

These are very easy to make. First work a round of single crochet around a pony tail holder, then continue around in your chosen pattern. End with a round of single crochet around another pony tail holder, adding a chain loop to the round. Finish as desired. Easy Peasy!