Off the needles

I've finished Stephanie's vest, again. I knit Stephanie a Neighborly vest using some gorgeous, soft wool. When it came off the needles, I was so proud and the compliments rolled in...until I tried it on her. Too short! Sigh. I was so ready to do my next project that I decided to get over it. I proceeded to knit Ellie's Neighborly, and (you guessed it) TOO SHORT. It was time to whine to my knitting peeps. Marianne, the lady who taught me to knit, looked me squarely in the eye and asked how short they were.
Just a couple of inches, I said. Both of them. Must be the pattern.
She kept looking me in the eye.
What?
How tall are you, she asked? How long is your torso?
Ah-ha moment! (that's what she was waiting for). My girls have long torsos too! I will always need to add a couple of inches to their handmade garments. Good thing to learn, actually. And thankfully, it's easy to fix with a knitted garment. I had to rip back and add several more rows. Here's the result:



I haven't managed to wriggle her into it yet (as you know, she prefers to be sans clothing), but I'm pretty sure it will be long enough now. Ellie's is still on the needles, but I hope to finish this weekend. Here's what it looks like, blocked but too-short:

Adventures in knitting

With the turn towards warmer weather, I'm working hard not to let knitting go by the wayside. There were several weeks that, for whatever reason, I just couldn't get needles in hands to work. Then, I resumed knitting with a simple scarf project, thinking it would be a safe bet because it was fairly mindless. Turns out it was too mindless, leaving me with even more knitting apathy. There is a Jo Sharp cardigan that has been calling to me for a while now, but I had never attempted such a big project. I kept looking at it online and waffling. After the Bali trip, I visited my yarn shop to give them some pre-ordered Balinese candy (if you go to Crossways, take them Fox's in the purple bag; Margaret must have those!), and a woman was trying to figure out color combinations over the phone for--you guessed it--my cardigan. I took it as a sign, selected a color combo, gathered all the yarn (and boy oh boy is there a lot of it), and I haven't looked back!

I have heard that there are different types of knitters: scarf knitters, hat knitters, blanket knitters, sweater knitters...it is entirely possible that I am a sweater knitter. Scarves, while lovely, bore me after the pattern emerges (usually less than 20% of the way in). Knitting this sweater is totally different. Creating a garment by hand, stitch by stitch, is enormously satisfying. It turns out that this pattern is really easy and quick to knit. It is knit on fairly large needles (10mm) with two yarns held together. One is alpaca; the other is cotton. Alpaca is really warm, so this will be a winter cardigan. I was drawn to a burnt orange color (a warm and cozy fall color in my mind), and I did my darnedest to match a cotton to it that wouldn't be too blah or too pumpkin/crazy. I settled on a dark purple, and forged ahead without a test run. I am not yet convinced this was entirely sane. There are some lovely colors in the alpaca that I completely ignored in my quest to match the orange. This is a lesson in swatch-making. Buy one ball of each and make a swatch! Of course, I didn't do that. I bought all the yarn I'd need for the cardigan, so there's no turning back. (actually, I think I would have done it anyway. I really like these colors together; I'm just a bit worried about it as an entire sweater)


Last night, I finished the bottom part. Today, I start the sleeves. Once the sleeves are made, I will knit them in with the bottom to form the back and collar as one piece. I promise to be back with photos of the outcome. I hope it won't be too freaky. Certainly, there's nothing like it available in any store, which is part of my goal.

Another knitted project done!

Weeks ago, I noticed the girls who work at our local fruit and veg spot were freezing in the mornings, and they kept pulling their sleeves down over their hands. I got the brilliant and generous (if I do say so myself) idea to knit them up matching handwarmers that would help fight off the chill while keeping their fingers as free as they needed. Of course, that was weeks ago. I lost enthusiasm part way through, but I finally finished knitting three pair of fairly simple handwarmers this weekend. While it's still cool (and gloriously so!), it is no longer cold enough to require handwarmers. Guess I'll be saving them as a gift for next year. You get to see them now.



I had a hard time capturing the color accurately in the morning light, but there they are! I used some yarn I bought when I first learned to knit. I had a men's scarf in mind, but I am not wanting to knit scarves at the moment. This use seemed fitting. The pattern was found on ravelry, but can also be found on the designer's blog here. After seeing the pair I knit for myself first, Markus suggested that the wrist cover-up should be longer, so I adapted the pattern to start with 20 rows of stockinette instead of the pattern's 8.

Socks for Lolo

You know from my frequent whining that it gets quite cold in our house. Bare feet are the way forward here, but we have put a ban on them in our house because it's too darn cold. Ellie has long felt that Lolo should not be exempt from this rule, that Lolo's feet are too cold and she's going to get sick and she'll need to go to the doctor and get medicine because Lolo is sick because her feet were cold because she needs socks! So there. Apparently, it was high time this Mama got busy and knit some. I heavily adapted the math from this pattern to fit Lolo's unusual feet (very small feet, very large ankles), and even so, the socks are held on securely by two hairbands. At least the hairbands match the yarn, so Ellie is happy as can be, reassured that Lolo is now properly dressed (we don't discuss Lolo's short-sleeves...).


It's only natural that now Ellie is concerned that Lolo doesn't have shoes, and she has asked me to make her some. I tried wiggling my way out of it by saying Lolo is a baby who doesn't walk, so she doesn't need shoes. Ellie was ready for this, demonstrating that like any good mama, she will help her baby learn to walk.


I've got to figure out how to make Lolo shoes.

News on knitting

My enthusiasm for knitting continues unabated, and I am already a hopeless collector of yarn. My addiction is rather insane, but knitting is a lovely hobby if you like working with your hands and enjoy peaceful activity too. I really need to go back to the start and learn proper technique. I am such an impatient learner that I skipped right ahead to finding my own way to hold the yarn to achieve even tension (where all the stitches look the same) as a beginner, and I didn't bother learning the hard way how to hold it properly and work up to good tension. As a result, I'm usually very proud of my completed projects, but the actual work takes ages longer than it should because my movements aren't economical. I haven't made time to learn good technique because I always want to make products rather than just process. The ability to create has left me impatient with the process of creating (a common theme for me as a learner)...and I have to work on that. Until I do, I will keep churning out (slowly) new projects that hopefully will delight their new owners as much as they delight me to make them.

Since I finished Ellie's vest, I have made several pairs of handwarmers (which I gave away before photographing, alas),
a scarf for a girlfriend's birthday:


and socks for Lolo.


I loved the scarf so much that I was tempted to keep it, but it will be given. I think about the person I'm making for as I create, so that scarf feels like it's hers even though she hasn't seen it yet. The handwarmers were fun, quick knits. I'd intended to make lots more, but I want to move on to new challenges right now. Next in my sights: a soft, gorgeous wrap from the fabulous Malabrigo yarn. Ooo, that yarn is so buttery soft!
I think I need intervention.

Another project on the pile

I have too many interests. On my creative to-do list alone, there are at least 10 started-yet-unfinished projects, and knitting has added a whole new dimension to my madness. The possibility of creating something beautiful and wearable with my own two hands...well, it has led to a yarn buying spree of ridiculous proportions. Although Australia is the world's biggest producer of wool, it actually processes very little of it, meaning most yarns are imported and quantities are small and irregular. If I find a yarn I love or a project I want to try, no one can tell me if the yarn will be available in a few months' time or if that color will still be around. Once a supply runs out, they don't reorder, and that has given me justification for my ever-growing stash. Of course, back in reality, I am a NEW knitter, which means I'm very slow. I know I have the skill, so I am all enthusiasm about every project I see, but they take me ages to finish. I have four projects on needles right now, the latest of which I just began yesterday. Check it out:


The two yarn colors are so different that I didn't know how it might work, but I am amazed at the color array this far. This is going to be one colorful piece! Assuming I ever get it done...so far, I average 4 rows every 30 minutes, which isn't looking very promising in the completion department. At least I'm enjoying myself!

Ellie was sitting with me, coloring, as I cast on. When I came to a stopping place, she asked me to spread it out so she could see. She gave it a thorough examination and pronounced, "I like the colors! Maybe you should make one for you too!"

Knitting projects 2 & 3

It turns out knitting is the perfect new craft for me! Each project takes me ages because I'm new and because I have so little downtime (even less if you look for downtime when I'm not a zombie), but I enjoy it so much! I have now completed a scarf and a hat in addition to Ellie's poncho. The scarf was made for my wonderful friend's birthday. Inspired by yarn that reminded me so much of her, I knit like a mad thing...only to still be a bit late. Fortunately, she doesn't mind my tardiness! Before I mailed it off, I took it in to show the ladies in the yarn shop, since they have been so helpful as I plug along. The scarf came out so well that they are making one as a sample in the store! Since then, I've bought yarn to make similar scarves in two different colors, which should find their new homes next Christmas.


I also knit myself what I call my "pink rasta". It's a chunky knit beanie knit with a very pink Aspire wool/alpaca blend. That yarn is so soft and wonderful that I couldn't resist. The pattern called for one ball of chunky yarn to knit an adult and child hat, so I thought I'd knit matching hats for me and Ellie. Thus the pink. But oh...the PINK. It is just very seriously pink. I'm adjusting. The fact is I love this hat! It is so soft and forgiving that I can actually stuff all my hair inside and it still fits just as well, thus the name "pink rasta". Ellie's is almost done. I have to try to pin her down to test the size before I cut and seam it, because I made her hat a bit smaller than the pattern. I'm so crazy about this pattern (so easy!!) that I've already got plans to make three more before I move on to a different project.


Knitting is so enjoyable. I love that I can still sit and unwind with Markus in the evenings and yet create something beautiful with my hands at the same time. For a long time now, I have been tempted to buy a sewing machine and start sewing, but I realize that sewing would take me into a separate space, whereas knitting I can do while we sit together in the living room at night. I think knitting will be my new craft of choice for a while. Cooking still hangs in there too. Looking forward to creating baby Stephanie's first birthday cake this week!