Twas the night before Christmas . . .

. . .and like all knitters out there, I have "just a bit more to do."  Why do we do this to ourselves?  Every year?  Too many people we want to knit for and even toward the final date we are adding folks to the list.

Confession:  (and you'll be making the same one, I bet)  I didn't get it all done.

Here's the last bit that will be wrapped tomorrow before dinner at 4pm.

Hats --

backside -- before all the weaving

Grandson and his friends will each receive their own Grammy Knits hat, pattern courtesy of Tanis Fiber Arts free pattern.  I bot lots of Patons Canadiana worsted acrylic and mixed it up as I knit each hat.

The first one was fun; the second one, okay.  The fifth one?  Not exactly a "Ho, Ho, Ho."  But they are all done.  PS  I do not like duplicate stitch.  It's tedious and sloppy no matter how carefully you work it.

Enjoy your family time.  Drive carefully.  Eat what you want.  Laugh and hug and let the Light shine.

Christmas Knitting

I'm counting on the fact that the folks in my life who will receive knitted gifts are not generally readers of this blog.  Isn't that a life irony?

This year I'm working on "manageable" which means things that happen fairly quickly.  This means no complex shawls, no afghans, and no sweaters.  (Confession:  have started designing a vest for myself using some stash bulky -- size US 10 so that might happen too!)

A portfolio of sample projects --

Matching hat and toe-up socks.

The Hat is called Grammy's Knits from Tanis Fiber Arts blog.  The pattern includes mittens.  You must check her site!  She has some fabulous patterns.  The blog is well-written.  The pictures are wonderful.  The hat is a free pattern so it's in my Hats folder on Goodreader.

My first time with toe-up sox.  I have a copy of Socks from the Toe Up by Wendy Johnson.  She includes at least 6 different cast-on methods.  I decided on the "Easy" Toe -- if you have the book it's on page 18.  Worked out quite nicely.  I decided to do two at once and will make a red toe and heel, a black foot/instep and finish with ribbing in a stripe of all 3 colors.  

It's 'fussy' I'll admit.  Cast-on is with waste yarn, 1/2 of the
stitches you'll need at the toe.  

Two toes.  Pattern is Worsted Weight Sock from
Big Book of Socks by Kathleen Taylor.
Love, love, love this book -- great variety of
techniques, designs and yarn.

I'm also sorting this out --

Major heartache here.  It's a nice lace beret, from Webs, the Willow Beret.  Great yarn from Valley Yarns Merino, knit on US7 and 8.  

Big "however", however -- five lace repeats around the 120 stitches.  Somewhere in the middle of the second set of the 10 row repeats I stopped looking at the beginning of the round.  Managed to do only four repeats and didn't realize this till I was 4-5 rows into the mess.  

If you look closely above you'll see that I slipped the 'good' knitting onto a smaller circular, a US4.  Then I carefully frogged 5 rows in one section.  I was able to locate the last row of correct pattern knitting, but only after I knitted 2-3 rows and -- Yikes! -- it still wasn't right.  

Might have been less time-consuming to frog the entire hat down to that spot but I just could not bear to unknit stuff that was knit correctly.  Eventually the problem was corrected and I'm now half way thru the last repeat of the 10 row pattern.  And then there's the last 15 rows of decrease pattern to form the crown.

Hope to finish later so you'll see this one again.

Used alternate US 7 and US8 to recover the section I
frogged.

Back on track with US8

Highlighting my progress on Goodreader.
(Very hard to capture color on this yarn.)

Blue skies here, plus some sunshine.  Everything is sparkly.  Leaves are mostly on the ground and form piles and piles of yellow and brown ground cover.

I hear the East Coast is setting up for YAS (Yet Another Storm).  Yikes!  No knitting there.

I sure am grateful I can still knit.

#Hashtags for #Knitters

#FinishedAnotherOne -- Yup, promised myself I'd finish some of the UFO's I posted in my homage to friend Darliss.  Here's one of the baby blankets.

Easy free pattern from Bernat Baby Softee -- but that center
part was #booooorrrring.  

It's crocheted, with a G hook.
Only 3 skeins (which I got on sale!)
#NotAStashBuster

#MakingProgressButSlow -- another afghan, this one from a vintage book (do the 1970's really qualify as 'vintage'?  #YikesIAmOlderThanIThought) 

Getting this color in a foto is really tough -- it's Patons
Astra Hot Lilac (but don't try to use with any other colors
cuz it turns really gray.)

About half way -- interesting collection of patterns and all
easy to do.  Not sure how much yarn since this project is
#DefinitelyAStashBuster

I have decided to set aside August to #ConvertUFOtoFinished and so far so good.  That lilac afghan, though, is #SlowGoing -- lots of stitches on the circular US8 and gotta knit to 36".  #Yikes.

#HaveAWonderfulAugust

My friend Darliss

I can see her smiling, my friend Darliss.

Darliss is a great knitter and a great friend.  Her faithfulness makes her the kind of friend it's a blessing to have.  Her knitting makes me wish I were her.

You see, Darliss finishes things.  IMO this characteristic sets Darliss apart as a knitter.  She has a very simple pattern for this activity and accomplishment.   Only four steps.

• *She picks a pattern.
• She buys the yarn.
• She knits till it's finished, including the sewing together part.*
• She repeats from the *.

Now, let's talk about my stuff.  Sure I've got lots of finished projects, gifts, home decor, etc. that I can brag about, but I also have these.

Baby afghan -- crochet, Bernat Baby Softee

Sox, Magic Loop method with Chia Goo #2

Baby Afghan -- knitted, Patons Astra, vintage pattern

Bernat Waverly KAL Afghan -- needs 3 squares (I got bored.)

Cascade Sierra summer cardi I really did wanna wear this season.
(Some would say we haven't had summer, so that's my excuse.)

KAL top down that Knitting Daily did last winter.
Cascasde Superwash 220

Fledge Shawl from Megan Goodacre of Tricksy Knitter.
Sweatermaker Yarns, silk / merino

Patons Kroy sox on 2 sets of DPN's

Plus three (no, wait, four) quilts in various stages in the sewing room.  And more embroidery for pillowcase dolls.

When I grow up, I wanna be Darliss.

Hospital Time

There's God's time, earthly time, and Hospital Time.  If you've been a resident there or sat by the bed of a friend or relative, you know that HT elapses at a pace unknowable to mankind.  I don't think even the docs and nurses and aides can explain HT to you.  HT has a willful mind of its own and can be slower than glaciers and then pass more quickly than synapses in the brain.

Second verse -- sorta same as the first.  Another set of chest pains, a call to 911, EMT's at the house, ambulance trip to St. Joe's, boocoo tests (as in blood, x-ray, dye stress tests), and lots and lots of waiting in between -- all on HT.

I had a flight instructor who explained Flight Instructor Time to me this way:  hours and hours of boring flying punctuated by seconds of sheer terror  (remember there's a student pilot in the left seat, Pilot In Charge.)

HT feels the same way.  Long periods of boredom, bad food, interruptions for vital signs, and then finally a minute or two with someone who can explain test results and next steps.

Meanwhile -- I've grabbed my knitting bag on my way to the hospital.  Of course!

Here's what I worked on, all depending on available mental energy, interest level, and access to decent light.

Snug Sockettes -- from Vanessa at Mixed Martial Arts and Crafts.  Vaness at Mixed Martial Arts and Crafts.  Also on Ravelry if you wanna log in there.  I used stash, left-over Harry Potter sock yarn.  It's Cascade Heritage washable.

All the pics today were taken on the deck, as we finally have a bit of overcast sun.  We call them sun breaks here in PNW, USA.  It's a situation full of hope as in "we see enuf sun we can hope for the full dose soon."

Arimono Shawl -- Megan Goodacre from Tricksy Knitter.  I'm completely addicted to Megan's designs.  Just bot two patterns at her end-of-summer sale.  You might still be able to find a kit for Arimono, using Sweatermaker Yarns.  I gotta tell ya -- this is some of the most wonderful yarn I've ever worked with.  It's silk and cashmere, hand painted.  Tricksy Knitter.

Manchester United scarf -- my design and first experiment with Double Knitting.  Yarn is Patons Astra, sport weight acrylic.  This is very fun.  I encourage you to try something in Double Knitting.

We're home now and much improved.  We both enjoy being on our own time and away from HT.

Me, I prefer KT.

Knitting Time.

Twice as Nice

Now this is fun -- call me a knitting nerd -- but this is fun.

Double Knitting.  Two sides happen at the same time with the designs reversed.  One side is red with yellow design; the other is yellow with red pattern.

You goth admit that's very cool.

How did I get here?  Well, I'm on Twitter @RebeccaBianco and finally reached the incredible status of having 100 followers.  The 100th asked:  What do I get for being #100?  I offered a hand-knit scarf.  Mr. 100 is a rabid Manchester United fan.  And thus was born the scarf in double knitting.

• Front side / the 'right' side will be red with yellow pattern and words that read Manchester United.
• Back side / the 'wrong' side will be yellow but the words won't read correctly.  Maybe it will be mirror writing, but I haven't put any brain cells on that one.

I decided on Double Knitting so the scarf would be warm, reversible, and I would not have to use Duplicate Stitch or Intarsia (one layer) to add colors.  Double Knitting is really intarsia with two 'pieces' of knitting.

The process took at least 3 cast ons and frogs before the process gelled.  Here are some sites I used to help me along.  Both are easy reading and have clear directions.

• Knitting Help:  Where you can make a hot pad with a heart.  Author is Nancie Kramer and she's good.
• Knitty:  Where you can make "Not Your Grandma's Double Knit Hat."  Author is Jenanne Hassler, very nicely done.

I'm designing my own letters, one at a time.  I'm also a math nerd, so graph paper is a long time friend.  Yarn is Patons Astra, a sport weight.  The yarn label suggests US6 but the ladies above suggest smaller needles so I'm using US4.

Having fun -- double the fun.  

Warning -- either this will become your new yarn addiction OR you will decide it's fiddly or requires too much attention.  Don't try to look up while double knitting, so if you combine TV with knitting, you'll have to choose.  No more multi-tasking.

325 stitches

Yup that's the count at the end of this one.  Bind off loosely in purl.  The cast-on count?  69.  So lots and lots of yarn overs!

It's a great cape.  Designer is Brooke Nico, with ArtYarns.  The pattern is in their One+One book.

I started it late last week and made it my weekend project.  Steady knitting brings me to Tuesday and a finished item.  Yeah!

It's a prayer shawl.  Dear friend lost her dear friend to suicide.  Fathoming this mystery is beyond the human heart or mind.  A prayer shawl is just one token of remembrance -- a way to tell my friend that I know her loss is deep and unfathomable.  It's a small bit of my heart and prayers, said while knitting, that I will give her tonight as a way to say "I love you, even if neither of us understands."

The yarn is Paton's Canadiana, a superb acrylic that knits up soft and even.  The cape calls for a CCYA 4 weight.  Of course, ArtYarns features their own incredible fibers in all the patterns in One+One.  (The link from ArtYarns takes you to Amazon.  I always hesitate to link to a particular purchase site, so check out KnitPicks or WEBS or your LYS.)

Here are some detail pix.

Whatever that color disclaimer is, you can insert it here _____.   The bottom foto is closer to the 'truth.'

This one has worked up quite smoothly.  It's rated "Intermediate" but only because the pattern, as you can see, is irregular.  The leaves get larger as they fall down the length of the cape/shawl.

• Yes, I'd make this pattern again, definitely.  
• Yes, buy the book.  My purchase was a kind of accidental online selection that's made me happy I erred.
• Yes, I'd love to try any of the designs in One+One, using the ArtYarns specified -- they are all gorgeous and incredible.
• Yes, prayer works.  This I believe.  Amen

Spring Virus

I've got a bad case of sock-itis this Spring. I am almost certain there is no cure.  Pesky viruses seem to be immune to anything we try, including chicken soup.  I'm well enough to knit, thank goodness, so the virus will undoubtedly continue unabated.  You don't hear me complaining, do you?

Every virus attacks at some time with a wizard spell from Harry Potter, eh?

These for grandson.  Yellow House Yarns in Puyullup, WA , USA
helped me find the right burgundy.  Both are from
Heritage by Cascade, Merino Superwash.
Yummy.  Needles are US1

Then there's the mondo yarn and mondo needle socks for wearing around the house.  Would keep my feet warm but gave them to daughter, though grandson is the one who wore them home.

Lion Brand Wool Ease Chunky with their slipper sox pattern.
Pattern called for US13 but I stepped down to US11
to 'get gauge.'

These using Paton's Kroy, probably a discontinued shade, since this is from stash.  Frogged these when I thought I might be able to avoid the virus.

Started here, with plain pattern, and US2 but decided
to frog it.

Here's where I am today with the Kroy socks, using a pattern from Favorite Socks -- 25 Timeless Designs from Interweave.  This one is Retro Rib Socks by Evelyn A. Clark.

I've switched from Magic Loop for sox, to don's and on the advice
of Yellow House Yarn owner Megan, have purchased two
sets of the sizes I use.

Here's the two of them as I work my way down the leg of each to arrive at the heel flap.  Sometimes the virus attacks with a double dose.

Lots of sticks!

And finally, a close-up of the wonderful rib pattern, which shows even in the variegated self-striping -- and it's funner (yikes, bad grammar!) to work, imo.

Nice ribbing.  The single knit column is Ktbl every other row.

As you can see I have a serious case of this particular virus, so I reckon the only cure is a) starting yet another pair of sox (using stash which keeps the guilts away and the dollars in the pocket) and b) staying inside with plenty of liquids while I knit.

Let me know if you have other suggested 'cures.'

Meanwhile, I'll be sure to get plenty of rest while I'm knitting.

Almost

I really like it when projects reach the "almost" point -- almost to a waypoint, almost to a blocking board, almost to a final garment.  "Almost" for me is a reminder that the glass really is half full, even on bleak, gray days like today when the wind is howling and the rain wants to be snow.

Slipper Sox Almost ready to turn the heel.  Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick.  Slipper Sox, also from LB.  Size US11 needles.  The pattern called for US13, which I bot just for this project.  Sssshhh -- I didn't swatch.  The sock would have fit the Abominable Snowman, as if he needed sox!  Frogged it and started over with US11.  Wonderful, just grand.  And very, very warm, as the yarn has 20% wool.


Heel flap done, ready to turn the heel -- almost.


PS  There's another pair just like this one waiting in the leftover yarn.




Just Plain Mittens  I found an old Leisure Arts booklet with a plain mitten pattern, using worsted yarn.  Into the leftovers I dove and came up with the Cascade 200 Superwash I'd used for the yoked sweater.  Perfect.

Almost to the hands.  The cuff needs to be about another inch and then I'll switch from US5 to US7 and in no time I'll have blue mittens.


Did you notice I'm using Magic Loop for both the sox and the mitts?  One sock on the 'loop' and two mittens on the 'loop.'


As long as the cord is long enough and has the right flexibility, this is a great method.  I'll admit to a bit of a challenge (opportunity?) with the mittens.  The circular needle is an old one with a nice long cord, but it's stiff as straw and putting it under hot water won't make it more pliable.  I think it would be great for something in lace, but I'll tough it out to finish the cuff of the mittens.  After all, I'm almost done.


Patons Kroy Sox  These are on tiny twos, the Addi Lace variety, which is a 2.5mm (vs the usual 2.75 mm that conventionally corresponds to a US2.)  I'm making my way down the leg of the sox, again using the Magic Loop method.  This time with two sox.  Short answer?  I'm 'almost' to the heel.

These 'almost' milestones are good markers for me, reminding me that soon I will have sox and mittens.  Meanwhile, I'm a process knitter so moving yarn and needles is quite satisfying, thank you very much.

Almost . . . 

Another one leaves the nest

Got to thinking about all the knitting projects that I've sent to different people over the years.

This one's ready to wing its way to the recipient.  I love knitting and I love knitting for others, thinking about them as I knit, thinking about them as I choose the project and pattern that will be best for them.

Paton's Chunky Shetland, size US13 needles.
Pattern from Prayer Shawl book

• The cowl is in Richmond.
• Scarves are in Wenatchee, Perth (Western Australia), Seattle, Connecticut, NYC, Anchorage.
• Shawls are in Florida, Arizona, one to Amsterdam but now in Chicago, Lakewood.
• Afghans are in Baltimore, Cincinnati, Alaska.
• Sweaters are in Lakewood.
• Baby preemie hats are in Africa.
• Who knows where the Special Olympic scarves landed, around the neck of a deserving athlete.

Several projects on the needles will find their way to another place on the planet, to other people that share my world.

Most of the knitters I know knit for others, either a friend or a deserving group (homeless, preemies, chemo patients, and more.)  Keep sending your talent into the world; the world is better for it.  Leaving your nest allows the work of your hands to warm the next nest.