Progress = Success

Eighteen days left in March, and I'm well on my way to KOing three more SOs:


1.  This is the "Cream Baby Sweater" I so creatively mentioned in the 2012 FO Post:

You might have guessed that's not the real name of it.  I'm following a pattern from the book Teach Yourself To Knit by Evie Rosen and Leisure Arts.  It'll be a zip-up hooded baby jacket, although I beg to differ with the "jacket" part of that description.  It's still sweater-weight.  Perhaps they define "jacket" by having a zipper and a hood.  Zippy cardigan, I say!

(There's no way you could know this, but I just spent a good twenty minutes searching twenty some-odd pages of knitting books on Joann.com to find that link.  It would have taken five seconds to run upstairs to the craft room to fetch it.)

I'm knitting size 4, so it's not truly a baby sweater.  We'll see if it fits my 2-year old niece ... I have no concept of sizing for children.  Will it be too small?  Will it be too big?  Will it fit just right?  Will it fit, but need a little bit of rolling at the cuffs?  This last scenario is ideal, because that means she could probably wear it this Spring and also this upcoming fall.  Then, if she's not messy, she can pass it on to her little sister (turning one in November)!

I still need to finish the collar and hood, and seam this baby up.  Oh, and sew in a zipper.

The zipper's going to be the most challenging part for me.  I've never sewn into one of my knit items before.  I remember reading (and apparently NOT starring) a helpful blog article on this very topic:

http://splityarn.com/2011/03/27/easiest-knitted-zipper-install-ever.html 


You don't know this, but it took me quite some time to search my Google Reader feed for that.  I'm just not on my game today.  Article starred, mental note to order some blocking wires.  Riddle me this: Why don't the big-box craft stores sell the most essential knitting tools?


I don't know the answer.  I'm rather like The Mad Hatter in that way.


2.  Baby legwarmers:

I know, they weren't on the list.  In fact, take a lap in my craft room and you'll see there were lots of SOs that weren't on that list.  I have my work cut out for me!

My sister, M, requested knitted legwarmers for both her girls.  Again, I have no concept of baby sizing, so we'll see if this pair fits - oldest or youngest, I'm not picky.  I figure they've got to fit one of the girls.  I'll bring the rest of the skein with me and whip up a pair for the other.  

Oh, did I mention I'm taking a weekend trip to Virginia to visit my nieces (and sister and brother-in-law) in a few weeks?  These sort of trips always inspire a frenzy of knitting activity for me.  It's a productive way to handle the excitement!

Last time I was there, I cranked out these babies:

Nope, not literal human babies.  Although, here's one, modeling the smaller of the two hats:

The shirt truly says it all :)  Sweet girl!


3.  Hedgerow Socks

This picture does the color so much better justice than the first time I mentioned my Hedgerow Socks.

I know it doesn't look like I've progressed too far from the last time I updated you on this SO, but what you can't see is that I was originally planning on revising this pattern to make these knee-high socks.  I started with a few staggered increases for my calves, got a fair bit done, then decided I didn't like my adjustment and had to rip out quite a bit of the progress, back to before I started increasing.

From there, I continued down the ankle, and have gotten so far as to start the heel flap.  So they'll be more like trouser socks.

There you have it!  I've made progress on three of my SOs since last we met!  Yay!


In other news:

No, we're not trying (euphemism for having unprotected sex), but one day we will be trying (having unprotected sex) and I want my body to be a healthy place to grow a baby!    Mr. Pi, sweet, sensitive, thoughtful man that he is, brought these home from the grocery store for me :)  Did I mention I struck gold in the husband department?  I mean platinum.


As a final PSA, don't forget, tomorrow's Pi Day 3/14.  Hug a math nerd, or enjoy a slice :)


Mrs. Pi


P.S. To cite my reference in the title of this post, the start page of my Google Chrome browser shows a thumbnail of facebook, but the caption was "Progress = Success".  So weird.  But relevant to my blog, so I'll bogart it. 

Gifts Come In All Forms

It is a supreme delight for knitters to be surrounded by people who accept us and our craft (read: obsession).  But let me tell you, it is indescribable when my loved ones actively spur me on.  It's like the difference between a parent telling their children they sing well, and requesting them to perform "Ave Maria" for the family and friends.  For whatever reason (human nature), no matter how genuine and heartfelt, words alone do not suffice to convince.  This is a truth well-established (and demonstrated in adage) since long before our time.

I've been lucky enough to have actions speaking louder than words all around me lately, concerning my knitting:  

1. Two friends recently commissioned me to knit for them.  The first completed request was a shining success: Debra's mittens were delivered to Friend 1, who beamed at them, then insisted upon paying for them.  And more than just enough cover the price of the yarn.  

This demonstration was considerably poignant for me.  I've had plenty of people request knitted items, and I never charge friends for my work, above and beyond the price of the fiber, and sometimes not even then.  I am not exaggerating when I say that the satisfaction of meeting a desire when "store-bought just didn't cut it" is ... euphoric.  

But often the requests I get from loved ones come with no acknowledgement (likely because of a lack of knowledge) of how much time and work it takes to deliver on those requests.  And that's fine.  I'm 100% okay with knitting being taken for granted.  The craft and my fellow crafters are taken for granted every day.  But the request itself; it acknowledges that someone likes what I do, likes it enough for that someone to want to own something I made.

I probably don't need to tell you it takes me hours to finish a pair of hand-knit mittens.  It's likely choir-preaching to emphasize that the work isn't limited to the act itself, but also the yarn selection, pattern research, gauging, and any number of "false starts"  - knitting a number of rows before deciding it's just not "right" and having to rip it all out and start over.  What can I say, like many in my craft, I'm a perfectionist.

I admit it, I also love compliments and recognition.  But either of those - I know you know what I'm saying here - either compliments or recognition mean so much more when unprompted.  I honestly wouldn't mention the work and time that goes into a project here if this blog weren't nearly anonymous (I've shared the url with a couple friends. Two. Literally 2 friends.).  Like many of my fellow fibre-freaks, anonymity is part of the rush.  Ask a knit-bomber.  We know why the elves helped the shoemaker.  I concur with the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus.  If it paid enough to subsist on, I'd want to be the Knitting Faerie (it's so much more fantastical spelled that way).


So you see why being paid - my first item sold - tickled me.  I imagine it's the same feeling parents get when, years later, they're hugged and thanked for that special gift - the Cabbage Patch doll they waited for hours to secure, or the bicycle they scrimped and saved for, the myriad other items for which they went uncredited at the time.

My other requestor insisted on bartering with me for the wrist warmers she wanted.  She said she'd order me some heirloom vegetable seeds in exchange for me designing and knitting her some wrist warmers.  Again, the offer touched me.  I'm not even sure she realizes that what she proposed was extraordinary.


2.  Christmas was another demonstration of love and acceptance for me and my knitting:

My husband and my Mom both contributed to my arsenal of tools, reference materials, and media.  From the left:
- Four skeins of KnitPicks Imagination Hand Painted Sock Yarn, in Ruby Slippers and Munchkin,
- A gorgeous hand-thrown yarn bowl (regrettably I don't have the artist information yet - to be credited!),
- A subscription to Interweave Knits magazine,
- The Knitter's Book of Finishing Techniques by Nancy M. Wiseman
 

(I already wound the hanks of yarn into lovely usable cakes and couldn't resist starting a sock with the Munchkin colorway.  By the way, my still-to-be-named alpaca friend wasn't a Christmas present but he needed to make an appearance)

- A darning egg to maintain my hand-knit sock collection
- A lovely print, Balancing Act, from Sheep Incognito: The Art of Conni Togel

- A KnitPicks Corrie Vest kit

- A new project tote from Vera Bradley (in Very Berry Paisley)

(I got the matching needle case during a post-Christmas sale for $7.50!! Oh, how I love me a good deal!)

 

(The tote has plenty of room for a few small projects like Mel's Wrist Warmers, my nook, and a book I'm reading for book club, as well as convenient inside pockets to hold my nook charger, a small sewing kit, a snack, and a tube of my favorite handcream - L'Occitane en Provence lavender creme a mains.  Yes, you're right - next Christmas I definitely need to ask for a dpn holder.)

- and, Sock Blockers (in large) from KnitPicks

How did two non-knitters know with such precision how to buy such perfect gifts for a seasoned knitter?  Well firstly, they love, care, and listen to me.  And two other reasons.  

Back in the fall, my Mom was so kind as to accompany me on my first trip to the famous Duchess County Sheep & Wool Festival a.k.a. Rhinebeck.  By the way, this trip is definitely worth documenting in my next blog post - remind me to follow up.  She (unbeknownst to me) diligently took mental notes and business cards at each stand where I ooh'd and aah'd the most.  Oh, how I love my Momma!


Secondly, I have been maintaining an active WishList on KnitPicks.  I simply forwarded the wishlist link to my husband, and he chose a few items all on his own!  I love wishlists.  That way, the gifts are still incredibly thoughtful, but also perfectly tailored to my tastes :)


As for the Vera Bradley tote, he knew my favorite pattern and chose the style completely all his own, in a stroke of extraordinary brilliance and thoughtfulness.  When I asked how he knew I would love it, he simply replied that he thought it would be good for carrying projects.  Reader, I struck gold in the husband-department.


Blessed with support and love from friends and family.  I'm a lucky, lucky girl!


Mrs. Pi

Tink Tink Tinkity Tink

Tink, tink, tink, tink ... this is what I was saying in my head today as I was un-knitting two and a half rounds of Debra's Mittens. Thankfully it only took me two and a half rounds to realize I had forgotten to leave a thumb hole. Speaking of this particular work-in-progress, here is a picture of the first of Debra's Mittens:

I really love the pattern, "Pearl Chain Mittens" by handepande (available for download on Ravelry).  The challenge of the color changes keep it interesting, while the simple repetition of the pattern keeps it from being overwhelming.  Ok, so I took a few liberties; it's been a while since I followed a pattern to a tee.  Admittedly, my edits aren't always as awesome as I expect them to be, but sometimes I land on something good.  Equally as good as the original, at least.  I'm still a young knitter (or this is what I tell myself in consolation, since one of those big landmark birthdays is looming over me) and I'm cheeky and bumptious enough to presume I know better than seasoned designers of the craft.


This pair of mittens doesn't have a gusset, since I couldn't figure out how to build it in without messing up the pattern.  I'm on the fence about gusset-less mittens.  I've only knit mittens with gussets to this point.  I think Debra's Mittens work sans-gusset, but if you ask me, on a plain-jane mitten, I am pro-gusset.


Final note on Debra's Mittens: the yarn, Caron Vickie Howell Sheep(ish) in Black(ish), White(ish) and Lime(ish), has grown on me, now that I've gotten accustomed to working with it.  Sorry for indirectly bashing Sheep(ish) in the previous post, Vickie Howell.  It's soft and fuzzy and warm, perfect for mittens.


Back to the original topic: do any of you out there, in that dear void - or "cloud" although, I like Meg Ryan's You've Got Mail reference better - do any of you talk to yourself while you knit?  Inside your head, I mean - although, I am also guilty of knit-speaking aloud to myself.  My only evidence to date that I'm not alone is that a guy I dated once used to tell me that his sister was also known to mumble: "knit, purl, knit, knit, purl, purl ..." whilst completing her rounds (By the way, that's a reference to another of my double-yous eye pee, "Hedgerow Socks" by Jane Cochran, also available for download on Ravelry.  Picture below).

I'll leave you with a few questions that occurred to me as I typed this post:


1.  Who first used the word "tink" to describe knitting backward?  It's BRILLIANT.  

2.  Is there a proper way to cite a knitting pattern, a (accent grave) la MLA format or APA format, etc.?  Huh.


3.  It has often occurred to me to ask the question, why is W called a "double-u"?  Did the letter W really not warrant its own unique name?  Furthermore, should we follow the same naming convention when multiples of that letter are involved?  WW becomes Quad-U and so on?  That's a rather slippery slope, I guess, since with any URL we'd be using the prefix "Sext-U dot such-and-such dot com" ...

Mrs. Pi