Peaceful Knitter

Today is April 30, the last day of my Spring Cleaning Knitting Probation Challenge!

I started the month with 8 projects on my needles in various stages of completion:

1. Embossed Leaves Socks–50%
2. Diagonal Cross Rib Socks–50%
3. Morning Surf Scarf–60%
4. Spiderweb Capelet–25%
5. No Plastic, Please market bag–40%
6. Kittyville Hat 80%
7. Garter Stitch Scarf–50%
8. TKGA Master Level 1 Swatches–5%

Here’s the list as of today:

1. Embossed Leaves Socks
2. Diagonal Cross Rib Socks–70%
3. Morning Surf Scarf
4. Spiderweb Capelet
5. No Plastic, Please market bag
6. Kittyville Hat
7. Garter Stitch Scarf
8. TKGA Master Level 1 Swatches–5%

I am going to do my best to finish that darned sock today. I plan to knit on it as much as my hands and day can handle and see how far I get. It would be wonderful to start May with a completely clean slate.

Last night I knit the heel flap, turned the heel and picked up the gusset stitches. Here is what the sock looks like right now:

That’s it for today; I’ve got to get knitting! Wish me luck!

Yesterday was a wonderful day for knitters, and this knitter in particular (since I am the star of this blog).

It started out with me putting way too much thought into what I was going to wear to the event. One naturally wants to show off some handknit goodness when going to an event where hundreds of other knitters will be present. We each have to show our proudest achievement, a characteristically knit item. Since I haven’t knit anything I can actually cover up my main body parts with, I opted for my most interesting store-bought knitwear on top. And of course, I wore my most recently finished socks, too (see previous post).

That’s me, unable to contain my goofy excietment just before entering Webs to shop and meet Stephanie.

Sweetie and I got there about 1/2 an hour before the book signing was scheduled to begin. There were already dozens of knitters trolling the aisles for beautiful yarn. Sweetie was kind enough to hold my place in the signature line while I did a little shopping. I know, those were two things I was going to try to refrain from doing, but something came over me. There was such excitement in the air, so many pretty things to look at, that in the end, resistance was futile.

I went with a list of potential yarns for 2 projects I had in mind. I’m happy to say, I found yarn for both pieces, and they were on sale! And, because I am me and it was 25% off, I also bought some sock yarn for later. You know, in case I run out sometime in the next year…

So many of the knitters there were out in their finest creations. I saw several sweaters I recognized from Interweave Knits, as well as many other beautiful hand made pieces. It was very inspiring!

After I purchased the goodies, I took my place in line and got a little knitting done.

It was at this point that an inexplicable giddiness overcame me, and I was all smiles and sweaty palms. I have never sought out someone’s autograph before, not even when that’s what we’re all there for like at Debbie Stoller’s book signing. I am usually pretty calm and cool around famous people, wanting to impress them by how unimpressed I am, I guess. But I simply had to meet Stephanie. I had to thank her for writing Knitting Rules, and her blog, and for providing laughter and validation to knitters around the world.

When it was my turn, I stammered out an in-eloquent “Thank you for writing this book. It has liberated my sock knitting!” It was here that I thrust a needle into the air like a guerrilla knitter proclaiming victory. She didn’t laugh. So I said “Yeah, so I don’t even need a sock pattern anymore, it’s great.” And she said “No, people don’t need a pattern,” and handed me my book back.

We shared an awkward pause, after which I said Thank You and faded away. I’m not saying she wasn’t friendly–she totally was, and she gave everyone their moment to interact. It was a pleasure to meet her.

And that was only round one!

The Sweetie and I had plenty of time to grab some lunch, stroll around downtown, and get great seats. I should also take a moment to mention out kick ass parking spot, a mere 100 feet from the front door of the theater. We went there straight after the book signing to scope out the location, and lo! There was this beautiful parking space just waiting for us.

Inside, we found a seat right in the center of the front row in the balcony. Which was just fine with me, because it was a madhouse down on the floor.

The next few pictures were taken in a very dark auditorium; please excuse their wonkiness!

Word is that over 1,000 people pre-registered for the event. The collective power of all the knitting going on in that room could probably have powered the city for the 2 hours we were inside!

Sweetie and I passed the time with our respective hobbies:

NY Times Crossword + Diagonal Cross rib socks = dynamic duo!

I’m so thankful that I got to go on a knitting field trip with such a supportive partner. She stood in line for me, took photos, didn’t judge me when I bought more yarn, and even found herself laughing a few times during the talk.

After the Webs owners raffled off some awesome prizes, it was finally time. The Yarn Harlot herself was in the house, and the first thing she did was take our pictures with her sock.

And then she spoke for about an hour, reading from an essay she had written about how smart knitters really are. We are changing the way our brains work (for the better), strengthening our minds, buiding relationships with other knitters, feeling relief from stress, anxiety, attention issues, and even depression, all while practicing this activity which others view as simple or boring. I think we all know that knitting is neither simple nor boring! It affects who we are, and that is a wonderful thing. I know that for me, knitting has saved my life this past couple of years as I have struggled with health issues, depression, and adjusting to living in a new state. I don’t know how I would cope with life in general if I didn’t have my knitting to focus on and comfort me!

One of my favorite quotes was a story she told about a friend of hers who was knitting while waiting in a doctor’s office. A stranger actually said to her “I’m glad I’ve never been bored enough to knit.” Whoa. Her friend, who is more clever and brave that I think I would have been in the moment replied: “I’m grateful I knit. And I’m glad I’ve never been bored enough to insult a stranger in a waiting room.” Save that one in case you need a witty reply some day!

It was a wonderful day, and I’m so glad I took the time to go. I feel more connected to the knitting community and to this passion I have. We are not alone! We are not silly for being so devoted to our craft. It is a valid way to spend time, and we should all be proud to say that we are knitters.

• Pattern: Embossed Leaves socks from Favorite Socks
  
• Yarn: Oceanwind Knits merino in Shiraz (it’s washable!)
  
• Needles: US size 2/2.75mm
  
• Modifications: I knit a regular 1×1 rib on the cuff using the long tail cast on, then a plain stockinette toe with Kitchener seam.

This pattern was a joy to knit. The leaf motif involves traveling decreases and yarnovers, so it’s interesting to work on without being too challenging. When I finished the 2nd sock I immediately had to put it on the blockers for a photo shoot!

I LOVE the Oceanwind merino sock yarn. This looks like a solid color at first, but as I knit with it I could really see the subtle variegation in color, from pale peach to a raspberry shade. Simple and beautiful.

For those of you keeping tabs on my progress, that’s 6 projects down for the month, 2 to go. I’ve already cast on for the 2nd Diagonal Cross-rib sock and have knit up a couple of inches.

My goal now is to finish this sock by the end of the month (that’s Wednesday–eep!). If I finish that up, all I have going are my swatches for the TKGA master level one, which is a long term project.

What I’m leading up to is this: I’m heading up to Northampton, MA on Sunday to see the Yarn Harlot read (event info). Northampton is the home of the temptingly well-stocked WEBS yarn store, this event’s sponsor. I know I said I wasn’t going to buy yarn for the month of April, but come on! This knitter doesn’t make it up there very often, and they have the best selection of sock yarn I have ever seen. Plus, I’d like to get some yarn to make the Lelah top for my next project…

The Harlot will be in the store signing books before and after her reading, so it might be a competetive shopping experience. Since I’m not that into getting autographs, maybe I’ll be able to skirt around that line and do my shopping… We’ll see how it all shakes out.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

My cat Spike continues to show no remorse for his actions yesterday. In fact, he seems to have quite the attitude today. Since he doesn’t have a middle finger, he did this while I was photographing flowers:

Have a nice Earth Day! Plant a flower, recycle your water bottle, walk to work, or simply enjoy the fresh air while knitting outside…

I’ve been making pretty steady progress on my 2nd Embossed Leaves sock:

I’ve been knitting on it monogamously for the past several days. It’s amazing how quickly knitting grows when you work on one project at a time! That used to be the only way I knit, then slowly I got enticed by more and more projects and pretty soon–well, you know the rest.

So I got home from my knitting group a little while ago, ready to start thinking about dinner and the other mundane at-home activities one must pay attention to when not knitting. I put down my keys, then walked into the dining/living room to put away my knitting bag. That’s when I saw it.

Looks like my cat Spike got into the potted plants again. He does this on occasion when he’s bored or frustrated.

Today he must have been really pissed.

I understand. Today was a beautiful day, he wanted outside, and no one was around to open the door for His Royal Feline-ness.

The worst part is that I watered those plants yesterday. So it’s not just some dry dirt to sweep up. It’s wet, and HRF left muddy little footprints all over the house. I keep finding paw prints in interesting places; apparently he likes to go into the bathtub, circle around in the middle of our bed, and walk across the back of the couch.

Anyway, the plants are okay, I have a freshly-swept dining room floor, and there’s plenty of daylight left for him to whoop it up outside and out of my sight!

This is a little something I made this weekend for my friend’s daughter:

You can read more about it here on my new baking blog.

The recipient was the same little one I knit the kitty hat for a couple of weeks ago.

I think she likes it!

Cascade Tuscany Grande super bulky in Celedon and Sunrise.

This is some interesting yarn that I picked up with no idea what I would ever knit with it. While my sister was visiting in March, I blodly told her she could look through my stash, pick a yarn, and I would knit her something with it. She chose this. I fiddled around with a couple different things before deciding a simple garter stitch scarf on size 10 needles would be the best way to highlight the varigations of color and texture.

The scarf started out with purple as the main color. Every 10 rows I threw in a couple of green stripes for added interest. Then, when the scarf got to looking about halfway finished, I transitioned through some more stripes to make green the main color.

This has been a great improvisational project to work on in between more complicated patterns. The colors are fresh and cheerful, the knitting easy to work while watching bad television. But it had been languishing in my knitting basket playing second fiddle to the lace and sock projects. Well no more! It is finished, dear sister, all except for weaving in the loose yarn ends, and will be on it’s way to you soon!

Knitting Probation stats:

• 5 projects down, 3 to go
• 12 days until I can buy yarn or cast on a new project!

In other news, I ordered the new Yarn Harlot’s book, Things I Learned From Knitting…whether I wanted to or not from Amazon this week. I think it was listed for $8.75 or so, plus $3.99 for basic shipping. I was anxious to get my hands on the book, but didn’t want to pay extra for expedited shipping. So, I clicked, paid, and resigned myself to the 7-10 day wait.

Then, 2 days later, a little surprise was waiting in my mail box! I love it when patience it rewarded quickly.

• Pattern: Morning Surf Scarf by Jackie Erickson-Schweitzer of HeartStrings
  
• Yarn: Jitterbug by Colinette, fingering weight, in Marble 88
  
• Needles: US size 6
• Modifications: I cast on 66 stitches instead of 76. I wanted this to be a one skein project, but it ended up a little short, even after blocking. If you only have about 300 yards, I would suggest casting on 46 for a narrower, longer scarf.

This is one of those patterns that looks more complicated than it actually is. It’s mostly straight knitting, with one purl row and one row of different sized yarn overs per repeat. You just knit along, wrap 2, 3, 4, 3, 2 stitches with a knit in between. Then on the next row, you let all of those stitches drop intentionally and you end up with these beautiful open waves.

Blocking made a huge difference for the stitches in this pattern as well. It was a bit curly and bumpy before, and measured in at a meager 25 inches long and 11 inches wide.

After my special sink-towel-yoga mat blocking technique, the scarf grew 14 inches in length and 2.5 inches in width. I love the magic effect a little bit of water and stretching has on knitting!

So, that’s 4 works in progress dealt with this month. Now I am knitting with a much more relaxed attitude, less self-imposed pressure. I cast on for my second Embossed Leaves sock on Monday, and have been working on a 2-color garter stitch scarf for my sister. Then all I have left is the second Diagonal Cross Rib sock and my TKGA Master swatches. I am back in my comfort zone, and it feels wonderful!

Knitting is supposed to be a relaxing, peaceful activity for me. Feeling scattered and surrounded by too many projects was really affecting my enjoyment of knitting, and that was no fun. So after a week of dealing with these projects, I finally feel able to relax and knit with no deadlines or objectives. Knitting and I are over our little disagreements and lover’s quarrels and are back in a harmonious relationship!

That’s my knitting bag. Empty.

I tell you, making a list of all the things that are weighing you down, then systematically forcing yourself to deal with each item can be very productive. In about a week I have gone from 8 works in progress down to 4!

• Pattern: Spiderweb Capelet by Erin Weckerle from Stitch ‘n Bitch Nation
• Yarn: Nashua Handknits Creative Focus Brushed Alpaca, about 1/2 skein
  
• Needles: Size 15 US & a crochet hook
• Mods: I did one extra repeat of the lace pattern before decreasing at the top.

My 2nd set of successful pom poms!

This was one of those patterns that took a fair amount of focus to work on. I’m used to knitting on much smaller needles; knitting with 15s felt like holding two broomsticks! I had to be careful not to drop them, or the stitches. I would highly recommend this pattern if you have some wispy laceweight or a fuzzy alpaca like this; it highlights the stitches beautifully and is feather light.

Before blocking:

I did a quick wet block on this by simply rinsing in out in my bathroom sink. Then I laid it out over a dry towel, folded the towel up and walked across it to absorb the excess water. My favorite blocking surface happens to be my yoga mat. It doesn’t absorb water, so it takes much less time for the items to dry.

I placed a pin about every 2 inches or so, being careful not to distort the stitches or the shape of the capelet.

This could be one of those whimsical knits that was fun to make but that I’ll never actually wear. But right now, as I fantasize about warmer weather, I imagine myself throwing it over a tank top to run out for the day…

Next time, more finished objects!

Yesterday was a beautiful Spring day, the kind that inspired me to turn off the furnace, throw open all the windows, and bare my feet in flip flops. It also inspired me to make my favorite summertime drink: raspberry lemonade.

My recipe is simple:

1. Put some ice in a tall glass.
2. Pour as many frozen raspberries into the glass as you like.
3. Top with Newman’s Own virgin lemonade.
4. Stir and enjoy!

This tasty and colorful beverage in turn inspired me to do something with a couple of similarly colored projects on my knitting hit list.

Before / After

This was the No Plastic, Please market bag that I started on the cruise in Rowan cotton. It was a little small, but I kept knitting. It is meant to be knit flat, then folded flat and seamed up the sides. Wouldn’t this be better knit in the round on larger needles? That’s the thought that caused me to stop knitting. So, I FROGGED IT, and it felt great!

This is the Spiderweb Capelet from Stitch ‘n Bitch Nation, another cruise project. The beautiful frothy yarn is brushed alpaca in a subdued raspberry color that I love. The pattern is fun, but takes a lot of concentration to keep the yarn under control. So I sat down with no television or other distractions and whipped out a few rows. And this felt good too!

I think some projects are doomed from the start and should just be put out of their misery before they drag you down with them. Others are difficult for a reason, and the challenge is what makes it a rewarding project to knit. Some projects are right for certain mind-frames, and need to be put away until you can focus on them. I think I had some of all of this in my hit list, and taking the time to address each one has been liberating. I’ve made good headway this week.

Thank you for all of your encouraging comments! It’s great to hear your ideas and suggestions, and I love hearing your feedback on my projects.

• Pattern: Official Kittyville Hat from the 1st Stitch ‘n Bitch book
• Yarn: Paton’s Classic Merino in Rosewood and Sirdar Snuggly DK, one strand of each held together
• Needles: Size 8 circulars, size 6 dpns
• Modifications: I only picked up 10 stitches for the ears, then made just one triangle on each side. I also cast on fewer stitches to make it a bit smaller.

What a fun pattern this turned out to be! Since I knew from the beginning it was intended for a 2-year old I took a decidedly whimsical approach. This was a real custom job for me, something I don’t always take the time to do. But it was an interesting exercise in creativity coming up with ways to make this hat special for my little cat-loving friend. Contrasting yarn, adding a nose, and using mismatched button eyes are simple ways to embellish a project that make a handmade gift even more special.

My favorite model!

I’ve never had much luck making pom poms before, always ending up with limp little bundles of yarn. But then I found this page which made one simple distinction for me: use multiple strands of yarn held together when threading through your pom pom maker of choice. It adds fullness fast and I ended up with two plump, fluffy poms!

Knitting Probation update:

At my knitting group on Monday, I expressed dismay and torment over having so many unfinished projects lying around. My friend Eden suggested “just ripping them out” if they are causing me dread. Then later at the yarn store (I didn’t buy anything!) an employee said she had a box in her attic where her ufo’s go to die hybernate.

That got me thinking: what would happen if I simply ripped out all of the projects that I don’t love anymore? Nothing, really. Well, I would be free of that niggling feeling I have in the pit of my stomach that says I can’t start any new projects until they are finished. And I would have the yarn back in my stash, available for knitting something I do love later.

I’m still going to work on my projects, giving priority to those that I am enjoying or looking forward to having finished. But there are a couple that I am seriously considering ripping out, winding up, and putting away for another day. So for now, the status is 1 wip down, 7 to go (one way or another!).