I failed. Those gorgeous skeins of yarn I wound yesterday? The ones that were supposed to be for after the holidays? I couldn’t wait to start playing with them. So I pulled out the Nerd Girl Yarns Foxy in #nofilter and cast on the Later, Gator! cowl. After maybe three hours’ knitting (super fast for me) I had a new cowl, and I love it.
I made it with the girl in mind, and it looks lovely on her, but I was kind of sad to let it go. These aren’t colors I wear much, but I like how it turned out so much I kind of wanted to keep it. At least this way I’ll get to see it often, and even borrow it if I want. The blue reminds a bit of TARDIS blue, so I picked a pattern with a bit of wibbly-wobbly swirl to it. And the really cool thing is that this pattern only used around 95 yards, so I’ve still got around 180 yards left! So I’ve cast on a swirly hat, and the boy (also a Whovian) will get first crack at it. Merry Christmas Eve Eve, and happy knitting to all!
I’m Dreaming of Life After Christmas
This morning, I spent some time in my craft room. I missed my yarn stash. I admired my beautiful yarns and wished I had time to knit all the things right now. Since that’s not possible, I settled for pulling out a few of the skeins I want to knit with soon after Christmas and getting them wound and ready. I’m picking based on the yarns, not the projects or the people. Just the yarns that are calling to me. I can’t wait.
I’ve got some Berroco Borealis in there, some Manos del Uruguay Maxima, some Skacel Simpliworsted, and two Nerd Girls Yarns. See that blue and green back in the corner? Yep, that’ll be first.
What about you? What are you looking forward to making after the holidays?
This is why I’m not a knitted glove specialist
Six months. That’s how long it took me to make this one pair of fingerless gloves. That’s ridiculous. And it might also explain all the problems I had. See, I started these in early July and the first one went quickly and smoothly, like it always does. And then I got bored with the project and put it away, like I always do. A few days ago, I decided to finish them. I pulled out the bag and realized I had actually started the second glove (wonder of wonders); I had about two inches already knitted. No problem, I thought. I pulled the pattern up on my iPad and got to work.
It wasn’t until I had all the thumb stitches on waste yarn that I thought to hold it up against the completed glove. I’m glad I did: the second glove was significantly bigger. What the heck had I done? Thank goodness for Ravelry. Because I was using slightly bigger yarn than the pattern called for, I’d modified row counts the first time around. The good news was that I’d made note of my modifications. The bad news was that I had to rip back all the way before the thumb gusset.
I got that done, saved all my tiny stitches, and knit the gusset again, and this time when I measured against the first glove, they matched. Whew! I sped through the next 12 rows, had maybe 4 left, and checked size again…only to discover I’d gone wrong again. I have no idea how I managed it, but again I had too many rows on the second glove. Again I had to rip back, but at least it was only around 6 rows. I finally got the second glove finished and I think they match top to bottom. But a couple of little things don’t match up, like the seed stitch panels on the sides. And I think one thumb might be one row longer than the other.
But I’m still quite tickled with them. I like how they’re fraternal twins, not identical. I love the seed stitch portions and the snug fit. And I especially love the lovely little dark green buttons I found to sew onto the sides.
I think this is why I continue to knit gloves. Despite all the problems (you have to make two things that match exactly!!) they’re so delightful when they’re done. It’s like childbirth in that way. The end result is so charming that it makes you forget all the pain you endured to get there.
Details, for those who care: The yarn is a mystery yarn that I believe is a DK weight. I used this Seeded Mitts pattern and I do like it. Any problems I had were due to my own inability to count. (Yes, I have a digital row counter. Yes, I used it.) I’ve Raveled them here if you’d like to see my modifications. I’d like to knit them again, but a bit shorter and with the seed stitch panel all the way up the side.
Now, with these silly things done, I’m down to only five WIPs! That’s exciting. I wonder how long it will last…
Santa Claus is coming to town!
There’s not much exciting knitting going on in my house right now, sadly. I have now made 7 of those little treasure pouches and am done with them. I mean, I don’t need any more, but I’m also tired of them. Needing a break from them, the other day I decided to make the knit Santa gift card holder from Petals to Picot. 
So cute, right?? I love it. I made two for my own gifts and another for a friend, and they’re another project that works up super quickly. I didn’t have any furry white yarn for the top, or gold crochet thread for a belt buckle, but I think it’s okay without them. Though next year I’m totally going to be prepared to make them as written!
Yesterday I finished a lingering present. That means I lied the other day, when I said I’d finished all my must-knit projects. This teddy bear had been knit for a couple of months, and I was just waiting for the motivation to give him some kind of clothing or accessories. I think the gift card sock inspired me to make a Santa bear.
The hat and scarf really took him from boring bear to snazzy Santa! The scarf is just a 5-stitch stockinette strip. The hat I improvised. I started at the top with nine stitches and increased every other row until it seemed big enough, then I knit around until it was tall enough. Add 4 purl rows of white and cast off and boom, you have a hat. Bear was knit from the Simple Medium Size Bear, which is in the book The Best Dressed Knitted Bear by Emma King. I used one skein of KnitPicks Brava Bulky in Sienna. That hat and scarf were also done in Brava Bulky.
Today the kids have a snow day. We have maybe two inches right now with the promise of another inch or so. The puppy, who is now 11 months old, is in love with the snow and was gallivanting around in it early this morning. I’ll have to try to get some photos of him. Maybe I can even get the boy to play with him. And later we’ll be having hot cocoa and playing some games, and I’m sure I’ll have my yarn handy too. Hope you’re all warm and cozy today too!
Just keep knitting, just keep knitting
We had a busy busy weekend around here! My daughter, who’s a high school freshman flutist, made it into the All District Band. Fabulous achievement, right? Yes. But it meant driving 30 minutes each way on Thursday and Friday after school for rehearsals. The upside was that I then had two and a half hours to myself. I got to sit there and listen to talented musicians practice beautiful music while I played with yarn. I really can’t complain; I enjoyed it. And I finished the last of my must-knit Christmas gifts! Unfortunately, you can’t see them until after Christmas. But I swear I got them done.
Saturday was performance day for the band, and I knew I’d have a lot of idle time. So for my easy concert knitting, I decided I needed to make little pouches for some small gifts I’m giving. I was going to use little boxes, but surely a handknit pouch is more fun, right? I’m using this brilliant Treasure Pouch pattern with bits of leftover worsted yarn and size 4 DPNs. Each one takes maybe 45 minutes tops, and I got two done that night! They’re adorable. I’ve got another on the needles and I’ll be making a few more before the big day.
Yesterday we had a birthday party for a special little boy, and I’d made him his first handknit mittens. They match his winter hat (which I also made but forgot to photograph). Thankfully, they fit well and he seemed pleased…until he needed his hands to play with the Batmobile and pulled them off.
Now that the presents are all prepared and procured, I’m getting the itch to start wrapping. I want presents under the tree, but I’m also ready to get rid of some of these piles in my closets!
Knitted Candy Cane Scarf
This is the fastest scarf I’ve ever made! Partly thanks to it being garter stitch and partly thanks to wanting to get it done before Christmas. Anyway, I cast off during flute lesson last night and wove in the (many) tails last night. I love it! It’s 6 1/2″ wide and 65″ long.
Thanks, Kristen Rettig, for the awesome Candy Cane Scarf pattern!
Two Christmas FOs
I got to add two more FOs to the Christmas gift pile over the weekend. The first, and most satisfying, is a blanket. It’s throw-sized, about 31″ by 41″, so not huge, but still, knitted blankets take a long time. It’s a much bigger commitment than, say, a hat. I spent most of Saturday at a band competition with my daughter and this was the project I took with me, hoping I could get it finished. I got a long way, and finished it Sunday morning. This is the Double Seed Stitch Blanket by Purl Soho. It’s simple, classic and lovely.
I used 5 skeins of Knit Picks Brava Bulky in red. I wanted it to be soft and warm but also washable. I used a smaller needle than the pattern specified, 11 rather than 13, to get a denser fabric. I found it quite cozy on my lap as I worked on it, so I’m really hoping the recipient will be pleased with it.
The other gifty object is the red tote. You may remember I blogged about it before, discussing my felting struggles. I tried one last time and finally I have called it finished. This is the bag after three machine cycles and two hand-feltings.
I like it. There’s more stitch definition than I would prefer, but it’s definitely a sturdy fabric. It’s a good size for a book, notebook and cell phone. For those who missed it before, this is the Lucky 7 Felted Tote made with Cascade 128 Wool. I’d like to try this pattern again with a different wool.
With two gifts finished, I thought I deserved to start a selfish project. Did anyone else see the new Candy Cane Scarf pattern? I can’t remember if I saw it on Ravelry or Facebook but I fell in love with it immediately. I don’t make many scarves anymore because they take so long, but I’m making this one! And I’m making it special too: I’m using my Cascade Yarns Baby Alpaca Chunky. Mmmm, it’s gonna be soft and warm and delightful! Since the yarn is bulky, not DK like the pattern uses, I’m using size 8 needles, and I only increased to 32 stitches before switching colors. I’m so happy with it, and it’s going faster than I expected (thank you, garter stitch).
This is totally going to be worth all that end-weaving.
I hate to brag, but my Christmas shopping is DONE. Christmas knitting is down to one fingerless glove. (I really should start that soon.) I have none of the panic from last year, and I’m liking it. It’s a combination of starting earlier in the year and stressing less about handmade gifts. Not everyone is getting one, and that’s okay. Not everyone is getting something big and complicated, and that’s okay too. Now I can sit back and coast along, and not freak out every time the kids cross off another day on their Christmas countdown. I wish the same calm for all you other crafters!
A Visit to a Pottery Studio
We did something really fun yesterday: we went to an open house for a pottery studio! The Kansas City Clay Guild sponsored a Holiday Sale and Pottery Tour involving several studios around the city. We had big plans to make it out to the Rafter E Studio to see Tara Dawley‘s pieces, but the girl had to help her grandma with some chores and the hubby had to do a long run and before we knew it we were out of time. We had to be happy with going to 323 Clay, which is two minutes away on the historic Independence Square.
And it was SO COOL. Obviously we’ve driven by it many times, and my husband had been once before, but I’d never been inside. They rent studio space, offer classes and workshops, and have a gallery space. The first two rooms were filled with gorgeous mugs and vases and teapots and platters, then you move on back and there were booths set up in the roomy studio space in the back. Down the stairs was another little booth. There were several artists displaying their pieces; at least five, maybe six. We were greeted by David Lee, the studio owner and artist, and he showed us around enthusiastically. We got to see his kilns, which were numerous and huge, and he explained a bit of the process to make pieces look the way they do. It was so interesting to see things in the various stages, from the unformed clay to works in progress to unpainted items to painted but unfired pieces. I loved seeing the little handmade touches: a glass rim that’s not perfectly round, the faint finger marks in a delicate cup.
My son thought the snacks were the best part of the tour. One of the neatest touches was that David had made a bunch of ceramic cups for guests to use while there and then take home. Seriously, free pottery! How cool is that? So we each picked one out.
I like how each one is slightly different. Even the ones with similar colors are like variations on a theme. My daughter picked out the pink one. I think she likes to stand out. These are fun little cups, perfect for juice, or scotch, if you’re my husband.
Of course we had to take something home. I really wanted to get something from David’s collection because he was so personable and welcoming, and he had wonderful pieces. The teapots, which is what I really coveted, were out of my price range, but there was a soft green mug with hints of red that I liked. I also liked this big red mug, and I was glad it was the one Alex decided he needed.
But I kept coming back to this mug and it said it needed to come home with me. I’m not sure why, because it’s not a color I typically gravitate toward. But it’s such a lovely pale shade of turquoise with the palest hint of pink inside. It’s an appealing shape and the handle has such interesting line details. I just…needed it.
This is by a different artist, and I’m kicking myself because I forgot to get her business card or even her name. The mug says Percival on the bottom, and the price tag said CJP. And she had so many other pretty things that I imagine I’ll be going back for more in the future.
It was a wonderful little adventure, and it made me wish we’d taken the time to do more of the tour and hit other studios. We love to see real people making a living from their passion, to see examples of art and creativity taking root in the community. And a unique handmade piece is so satisfying!
So if you’re in the Kansas City area and love pottery, you might check out 323 Clay. They’re open by appointment or by chance, so call the studio and set up a time to visit. I’m sure David will be happy to show you around!
Knitting Disappointments
I finished the hat yesterday, like I said I would, but I’m not completely totally happy with it. I love the pattern, love how it’s got a lot of slouch, and it’s unisex. I love the yarn, how it’s soft and washable. What I don’t love is the big glaring mistake I made right in the middle of the hat.
See?!? It’s horrible!! Okay, that’s nice of you to lie, but I know you see it. That line right where I started decreasing is because I stopped on the wrong round. I was supposed to stop after a k1, p1 round and I stopped after a knit round. Sighh. I didn’t notice it until I was halfway done with the decreases and…well, I confess: I was lazy. I could have frogged back but I didn’t. If it were for anyone other than a member of my immediate family, I would have, but I really don’t think my 11yo son will notice, let alone care. Plus, the other really cool thing about this pattern is that it’s reversible, so I turn it inside out and the line almost disappears on the purl side. 
Sorry for the crap photos. Again, I was lazy. Too lazy to get out the good camera so these are phone pictures. Plus black hats are really hard to photograph…on a phone. Inside. In the morning, when there’s no natural light because it’s raining outside. For those who are interested, this hat is called Graham and I do quite like it and I will be knitting it again, correctly next time! I used less than one skein of Knit Picks Brava Worsted in black. Anyway, the most important thing is that the hat is done, and I can wash it and put it aside with the rest of the gifts and move on.
Sure, I can move on to the bag I frogged. (I know, I’m a bundle of cheer today, aren’t I?) Here’s where I was:
I love the yarns together but the pattern just wasn’t right for me. I don’t carry bucket bags, at least not as purses, and I want this to be a bag I’ll carry. So this morning I very slowly and carefully frogged it, and it went better than I expected. I think having the strand of wool in there was a huge help. Just the silk along would have ended up a tangled mess. Now I have a nice big ball and a new pattern, and I’m going to start fresh today.
As soon as I walk the dog, and drive an hour to pick up the girl’s flute, that is. In the rain. Just call me Eeyore.
Nope, that didn’t happen
Well. That hat I was going to make yesterday? Ha. I was dreaming or something. Despite getting distracted by internet and Grey’s Anatomy my best efforts, I only got about halfway done. So no picture for you today, sorry. Instead I will give you a picture of my charming puppy. And the cheese knife he chewed up this morning. And the Christmas tree he was pondering.
Good thing puppies are cute, eh?
I have errands to run and miles to go before I knit, but I have faith the hat will be complete by tomorrow.
bonnyknits 