Gromit Knits!

How Not to Design A Sweater -- In 10 Easy Steps

If you want to complicate your knitting life, it's easy, just follow these simple instructions when designing and knitting a sweater for your child:

1. Find a sweater pattern for the yarn you have selected.  Check the gauge, assume yours will be the same.  Do not subject this leap of faith to any form of proof.  Grab needles and cast on.
2. Ignore possibility that the design as conceived may be knit in the round, or at least in one piece, so as to facilitate finishing.  Proceed with knitting a raglan in flat pieces.
3. Roughly calculate the number of stitches needed to fit your child's chest measurements.  If you want to increase the excitement factor, omit actually measuring said child.  Even if you do measure, leave calculation of sleeve length and armhole depth until later.
4. Cast on without bothering to adjust starting point of stitch pattern so as to center the pattern -- in this case ribbing -- or to have the edges be symmetrical.  Do not note what cast on is used.
5. Knit back making up armhole shaping as you go, while hoping that armhole will be deep enough when there are still enough stitches for the back of the neck.
6. Add pockets to front pieces without fully researching how best to construct desired slant style.  Make second front slightly different from first, so as to refine pocket construction.  Hope they look enough alike when done that sweater does not look silly.
7. Start front neck shaping when the moment "feels right."  Omit any pre-planning or calculations.
8. Calculate the number of sleeve increases and decreases based on number of required raglan decreases based on body construction.  Don't worry about ease.
9. Decide the fronts and sleeves need to be ripped back 2-3 rows after seaming.
10. Plan to finish with attached i-cord and a zipper since you've never installed a zipper before.

After all is said and done, realize that while it fits now, it will be outgrown within several weeks.  In the meantime, post a gazillion pictures because you think your kid is so damn cute.

Sweater isn't too bad either.  She loves it and swears she will wear it.

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Olympic update.

Voting as of 9:30 pm Sunday, January 29 has Lizzy winning by a nose.

But I'm going to knit Butterfly for the Olympics.  Why?

Because, as Steph said, it's probably the biggest knitting challenge of the bunch.  But, more importantly, my friend Lolly said she would knit it with me if I chose to do Butterfly.  And a number of other friends may join in as well.  How can I possibly turn down an offer like this?

If you voted for Lizzy, do not despair -- I've got 12 days before the Olympics begin.  Let's see how much of Lizzy I can get done between now and then....

Belated Blogiversary

In a feat of spaciness, that may be unequaled in the history of knit blogging, I completely overlooked that last week was a milestone of sorts.  As of January 19th this blog turned one!

I don't know where the year went, maybe I should go back and read the posts to jog my memory.  It feels fast, though the rest of my life isn't moving as quickly.  I'm still only in the beginning stages of changing careers.  Plus, the bathroom we tore out in July still isn't back together -- that feels like an eternity.  But the year in knitting?  Whizzed by.

Typepad tells me I posted 109 times, not as much as I had hoped, but what did I expect?  I've never been a journal or diary keeper, so this is new for me.  This year, with a bit of practice under my belt, and a reduced need for perfection, I'm aiming to post more often.

More importantly, by being here, wherever here really is, I've "met" and become friendly with any number of knitters -- many of whom live across the world and will read this when I'm sleeping.  Some of whom I'm glad to say I know in "real" life because of this blog, or will before too long. 

It always shocks me that someone besides my mother, my aunt Lois, and my immediate friends bother to read what I have to say and cheer me on.  Thank you, thank you -- all of you.  For reading, or skimming, and for commenting. 

I'll be honest, I love comments.  Comments are the best.  Last week brought another milestone -- I broke the 20 comment barrier on the post from my one year anniversary date!  I try to respond to everyone who comments, and given the number of comments I get it seems like a reasonable expectation.  Bear with me though, sometimes I'm really spacey.  Others I'm stymied by trying to find the perfect witty response.  So, if you don't hear from me, just assume I'm suffering from performance anxiety, not a case of rudeness.  Okay?

Enough of this mawkishness.  Onto the real topic of the day -- what to knit for the Olympics?

 

My mother wants to know.  She found my name on the sign up list and asked me when we talked on Sunday.  I think it's great that my mom reads some knit blogs now, but it means I have no secrets.  Not that I did before, but there was always the illusion that I was an adult.

So, what did I tell her?  Nothing.

I haven't made up my mind.

I really wanted to step up to the plate and do something grandiose, like knit an Alice Starmore fair isle, or a Hanne Falkenberg kit (yes, I will get back to Mermaid shortly).  Who am I kidding?  Even with President's Day, and the two days afterwards when I'm stuck on federal jury duty, it just isn't possible. 

I'm taking a writing class on Wednesday nights, teaching sock knitting on Tuesdays, working my normal job, getting ready for our kitchen to be demolished, trying to spend time with my family and oh, yes, doing the every day chores that I can't avoid.

Nope, no intricate cables and colorwork are out.

Noro is in.

I'm down to deciding between Lizzy:

Mavis:

 

Butterfly:

And Hudson:

Let me know what you think:

Which project is Olympic worthy?
	Lizzy
	Mavis
	Butterfly
	Hudson
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Meme Monday and Canadian Condolences

A while back Carrie K tagged me for the "5 Weird Things About You" meme.  I've been dragging my feet on this one, not because I can't come up with five weird things, but I can't decide which ones are reasonably acceptable for a public forum.  You know, the ones that are cute, not repulsive.

Here goes:

1. I love unagi, yes eel.  I will proselytize the joys of eating eel to all who will listen.  I thoroughly enjoy making people uncomfortable by getting them to watch me eat it or daring them to take a taste.  My daughter loves eel -- I taught her to eat it before she could develop any prejudice against it.
2. I prefer water with fizz.  Maybe that's not really weird per se, but it is unusual for an American, especially since I prefer it at room temperature.  No ice-cold plain water for me.  Add CO2 and I'll down gallons of the stuff.  We buy cases from Trader Joe's three at a time. 
3. I gave up using a palm pilot because the games were too addictive.  Really, how much minesweeper can one person play?
4. Wood fires make me itchy.  I seem to have some sort of allergic reaction to the smoke that's not confined to the usual upper respiratory symptoms.
5. I have a hard time falling asleep if I don't read at least a page or two in bed before turning out the lights.

For this one I'm tagging Minou and her disciple Thor, Minou's Auntie Steph, Tracy, and Shelley.

Onwards, for today I saw that Bonnie tagged me too:

Four Jobs I've Had:

1. Mystery bookstore clerk
2. Landscaping crew member
3. Fundraiser/Community Organizer
4. Pastry Chef

Four Movies You Could Watch Over and Over:

1. Lady Jane
2. Rebecca
3. Casablanca
4. Sense and Sensibility

Four Place You Have Lived:

1. New York City, NY
2. Minneapolis, MN
3. Ann Arbor, MI
4. Bryn Mawr, PA

Four TV Shows You Love to Watch:

1. Masterpiece Theatre
2. Law and Order
3. The West Wing
4. Jeopardy

Yeah, I don't watch much TV.

Four Place You Have Been On Vacation:

1. England
2. Germany
3. Maine
4. Disneyworld

Four Web Sites You Visit Daily:

1. New York Times
2. IMDB
3. Jannette's Rare Yarns
4. Knit Blogs (lots of them)

Four Favorite Foods:

1. Unagi
2. Pizza
3. Osso Bucco (Mart makes the best Osso Bucco ever and I could eat it almost every day)
4. Wensleydale with Cranberries (and anyone I've ever fed it to knows why!)

Four Places You'd Rather be Right Now:

1. Bed
2. Bed
3. Bed
4. Bed

Hmm, guess it's time for bed.

Oh dear, before I go, I'm going to hope that anyone with soulless eyes that betray them as a droid, or anyone that hates puppies, knitting and blogging doesn't win the elections in Canada, though it looks like he is in the lead at the moment. 

UPDATE: Sadly the conservatives did win, though only with enough seats to form a minority government. 

Tomorrow, I promise I'll address the knitting Olympic Question -- not will I compete, but in which event?

Now We Are Two

When we were one, we were just begun.

But now we are two, we'll fit into shoes.

We think we'll stay two,

Until we're worn through and through.

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Pattern: Jaywalkers by Grumperina (as if you didn't know)

Yarn: Vesper by Julia (scrumptious and the colors are totally fun, and yes, I have more stashed)

Started: December 18, 2005 (serious work only commenced the last week of December and the socks took second fiddle to some other stuff along the way, but they still took me too long!)

Finished: January 18, 2006

Inspiration: Cara

Apologies: Families and fans of A.A. Milne

Zeitgeist

Spirit of the age.  What all encompassing way of explaining why you do what you do, or feel the way you feel.  It's a bit of a chicken and egg question though.  Am I obsessed with knitting socks because everyone else is knitting socks, or because of other sociological forces?

Ah, well, the truth is it doesn't really matter.  OK, it does matter to me.  But, to stay sane I'm just not going to examine the phenomenon that closely.  While I'm curious why so many bloggers are focusing at least a part of their efforts on socks this year, I'll wait and read the sociological explanation when it's published.  Until then I'm just going to knit socks because I want to.  I'll stop when I want as well. 

I'm also going to knit pirate stuff.  In due course.

Meanwhile, Shelley, is clearly in touch with the spirit of things as she sent me some Socks that Rock as a late holiday gift.  What great fun to find a squishy package in the mail, one I didn't expect.  Especially one with such lovely fodder for my desire to knit some of every kind of sock yarn on the market.  Thank you!

Belated thanks also have to go to Karen, a blogless, knitting co-worker who also gave me some STR for Christmas.  Karen clearly knows me well.  Look at this, two skeins of Watermelon Tourmaline in an older put up of 200 yards each and a copy of Simply Sensational Socks.  Just more fuel to the fire, but I couldn't wish for anything better!

So I've given in to the tide of history and joined the Purling Ps 200Sox.

And Count Your Socks, hosted by Lynda.

Armed with a piece of paper I have determined that I have knitted 27 pairs of socks since 1998.  So few, I would have thought it was more.  Never mind, I aim to try to nearly double that this year by knitting two pairs a month.  With the help of self-striping yarn and the fact many of the pairs are intended for the girls (with their narrow girlish feet) I have half a chance!  I probably won't make it, but no one can blame me for trying. 

Plus, if I succeed I'll make a good sized dent in the sock yarn stash.  It won't use it all up, but it's a start.

For now, I'm sitcking to the plan.  Until I crack and cast on something for the heck of it, I'm working on WIPs and socks.  One each.  Maybe one sweater and two socks, but it stops there, I swear.

To show I'm true to my word, here is a finished Debbie Bliss Baby Sweater.  Note the artful hanger shot.  I realize it would be more knitting book worthy if the hanger weren't plastic, and if I had bothered to put a t-shirt under the sweater.  Sadly, unlike photo stylists, I do not have small t-shirts or an abundance of itty-bitty wooden hangers lying around -- hence the second picture -- I think it's a better shot.  Take my word for it, the sweater is cute and the flaws are not too pronounced.

Flaws?  Yes, I admit that in addition to my woeful photographic skills that I did not do a perfect job with this garment.  When I smacked up against the tricky purl side wraps and the logistical issues around knitting the wraps with the attendant stitches, I fudged.  What's the use of a knitting library if you're too lazy to walk into the other room to consult it?

Other flaws?  Hmm, lets not go there.  I'll just say, sewing anything other than a sweater seam is not one of my better skills.

Moving on, I reached the heel flap on my second jaywalker.

And, I even finished a sleeve on Em's HP cardigan.

All in all, a productive weekend.  Didn't get to bottling the beer though, maybe tomorrow. 

Now, if you'll forgive me, the zeitgeist has shifted from socks to sleep.  I must follow.

I hope you have the chance to do something positive for your community tomorrow in honor of Martin Luther King!

Buzzword

I spend my work-a-day life toiling in the bowels of Corporate America and it seems that I've succumbed to the dreaded buzzword disease.  I can spout all sorts of tripe when called upon: leverage, synergy, human capital, value-added, etc.  Now it seems my linguistic limitations are infecting my blogging life.

I have a buzzword for knitting and blogging -- "strategic focus."

I reserve the right to alter my course given a change in market conditions.  This release contains forward looking statements that are not guaranteed by management and should not be acted upon without due caution.

It sounds more momentous than it is, as is the case with all buzzwords.  It's about time I got around knitting with more concentration and purpose.  As my friend Hope pointed out over coffee the other day, she can't follow what I'm working on.  Projects appear and disappear without a trace -- what has become of them?

Nothing nefarious, I promise.  They're just vacationing in luxury with the other yarn in my house.  I know their forwarding addresses, but mostly I leave them in peace while I continue to take up with new yarn at every turn.

Reflecting on this observation I realize I'm not content with how my knitting is going.  I'm not finishing things because I've over committed myself and because I want to keep up with other bloggers.

Clapotis? Sure.

Inishmore?  Of course.

Martha?  Why not.

Corset?  I'm there.

Jaywalkers?  Count me in.

Mermaid?  Love it and everyone is doing it, I want one too.

I was not the most focused knitter before I began blogging, but it's only gotten worse over the last 11 months.

This month, I am taking the bull by the horns and sticking to one active project and one sock at a time.  We'll just forget about any other partially completed knits lurking around my house, deal?  I'll get to them in turn, but I can no longer delude myself that if I work on three different things everyday that stuff is going to get done before the next fabulous project idea impresses itself on my consciousness.

Five days into acting upon this observation things are looking up.

Saturday I actually finished the hat I started Friday.  The photo is at the top -- I didn't want you to think I didn't have any visuals.  I have to seduce you into actually reading all this stuff after all.

It's for my 14 year-old half-cousin.  I've got about five more to do that I promised to various family members when I realized I hadn't taken care of everyone in my Christmas shopping.**

It's an adaptation of the cover hat from Colinette's Artyfacts brochure.  I adjusted the stitch count for my gauge -- I guessed, no swatching here -- and reworked the pattern to be done in the round instead of flat.  The yarns are Manos #114 (?) and an unknown shade of Classic Elite Montera.  From the stash no less, yay me.

Then I moved onto completing a baby sweater (from Debbie Bliss's Junior Knits) for a colleague of Martin's.  The baby was born about a month ago, but as my standard operating procedure is to knit baby gifts in size 1-2, I figured I had a little time.  Regardless, I didn't want it to seem like Martin has forgotten to acknowledge the new arrival so I picked it back up.

By Monday morning I had completed all the pieces except the left front.  That's where I was when this picture was taken.  As of this morning I have finished all the knitting, including the neckline ruffle.  I took a picture but it's still in the camera.  Ends are woven in and all that remains is to sew on the sleeves and seam.  I do need to go buy a ribbon tie, but my game plan is to have a real finished sweater to show tomorrow or Friday.

Ok, it's a little sweater, but it's kind of the same as a real big-person sweater.

After this is done I'm committing myself to Em's HP sweater.  Just sleeves, seaming and a zipper to go.  She's growing so fast I'd better hurry.

But, since I didn't want a visit from the Sock Police that Tracy threatened might be my fate, I have cast on for the second Jaywalker and will be working on that as my travel project for the next week or so.

**Yes Mom, I remember your scarf too!

It's Lonely, being an Only

Green sock, blue sock

What a lovely new sock.

Will there ever be two socks?

Oh, when will I have a pair,

For my tootsies to wear?