1789 yards!

Remember back in July I did some “emergency knitting” for my mother? She wanted a baby blanket in a week. I knit my hand into cramps but I got the blanket, two pairs of booties, and a cap done in time. Eight months later the baby is finally large enough for the hat. Her grandfather proudly shared this photo with my parents who were both pleased to see such an adorable baby.

Like every knitter, I absolutely love the feeling of finishing a project, but even more than that, I love to see photos of my items in use. It’s so rewarding to know that the time and energy I put into making someone something is appreciated.


In other news, I crossed the mile finish line today. Current count is 1,789 yards. Thank you socks!

Still no camera but photos will follow soon

Clumsy!

Wanna see something totally gross and disgusting?

Today I took a giant chunk out of my thumb. It bled for way too long and stopped me from doing all of my normal activities, knitting and typing.

We’re talking a massive hunk! ½” long by 1/4” wide at the widest point. Stop laughing! That’s gianormous! Espcially for a knitter. It’s right at the point where I pivot the right hand needle.

Why does this happen to me!!! Seriously, first it was the attack scissors on my index finger, and now this!!! Perhaps I’m a bit clumsy.

Oh and this is not a giant thumb gouge picture. Instead it’s a picture of me from another particularly clumsy period. When I was 9 and broke my arm riding my bike. We still went to Florida that year, cast and all. To this day my father laughs about my attempt to go swimming with a cast on (hahaha cast on!). Reflexes were stronger than will power at that age and within a few minutes I had a soaking wet cast as I had really tried to swim.

It's Done!!!

I just finished sewing up the blanket and am about to go block it. ~happy dance~happy dance~

Because it’s for a baby I really want to wash it with wool wash before she gets it. You never know where you’re yarn has been, especially when it’s yarn from a chain store. I completed the booties and added a little checker board of pink and white to the top of them only to realize once they were finished that they were definitely not wear now booties. They looked more like something 2 year old Sophie would wear. So I whipped up a second smaller pair using Christine’s Baby Booties Pattern, alternating pink ridges to match the blanket and hat. I am thrilled to have this set nearly behind me. And if I never see another pastel pink yarn it wouldn’t be a tragedy.




Now I can return to my regular knitting. Well not just yet. This afternoon I’m heading to see the new movie Mamma Mia with the girls. I'll need something to work on in stockinet or garter stitch so I can knit in the dark theater. Probably will finish off those dishcloths or work on the Native Vest which has been on pause for a couple weeks.

In Tour De France news, I’m still waiting for Stage 2 yarn to arrive. I did receive a notice last week that they shipped it. I really am itching to work on some socks so if the yarn doesn’t arrive soon I might have to work on another pair.

(Later)
The blanket is all pinned out and drying. IT looks amazing! All of the XOXOs really show.

Thursday's Progress Report

Thursday progress report is coming a bit late today.
I was fed up to my eyebrows with knitting squares so I decided to switch it up and work on the hat and booties. The hat came out awesome!
I’m so pleased with it. Although I would’ve liked more XOXOs around the base it’s still good. For sizes up to 6 months and there’s an O on the top!
As you can see Billy modeled it very nicely.


The booties are a bit slower owing to the fact that I’m kitting bullet proof fabric with smaller needles and more stitches. I’m using size 6s and the pattern from Holiday Knitting. They are a cute white and pink blend but until they are sewn together they really just look like a rectangular cube taken apart.

Today was also a Five Mile Friday. I actually did a little longer than that, I did 5.6 miles. It’s interesting that as I’m walking along about half way in my hips hurt, then that passes and my knees start to ach a little, then at about mile 4 my calves really start to scream and they don’t let up until I get home. Good to note that my energy levels stayed at about normal after the walk. The two weeks previous I was exhausted until I finally broke down and took a nap.



I walked a big loop through a couple miles of canopied roads that had horse farms on the sides. It was around 8am and the temperature was almost perfect, 5 degrees cooler and I’d have been in heaven. Did you know that there are these ugly black flies in the woods? I think they are technically called deer flies but I blamed the horses for their presence. Oh were they annoying!

After that I rushed off to Plaistow to Knit Pickings with the girls. I took the plunge and bought 16 skeins of Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk. I just love this yarn. I used it to make both of the Better Bucket Hats. Perhaps this is my favorite yarn, at least in my top ten. So I bought enough to make the Longorias Something. It’s a turtleneck vest. I’m so anxious to cast on but I’ve got to finish my booties and baby blanket.

Also while I was there I bought these Ginger Sissors. We will not have a repeat of the events of Sunday.

This morning I knit one more square which means there are four to go. I’m thinking I can whip those out tonight while The Boyfriend is off at his brother’s Pre-Bachelor-Party-Party. I did get invited which pleased me but I don’t think I want to be around any of the guys this weekend. Their brains will all be mush.

Wednesday Progress Report

Here is Wednesday night’s progress report. As you can see I just need one more strip for the blanket to be complete. I feel like I should add a disclaimer for all of the non-knitters. Blankets do not normally knit this fast. This has been a superhuman feat. Something that belongs in a comic book or on the show Heroes.
I am Super Knitting Girl….knitting faster than a speeding bullet.

MacOban felt the need to point out exactly where that 5th strip was missing. He walked over to the pieces displayed on the floor and slid one out of the way to make space for himself and the 5th strip. I always knew I had a smart cat.

I am of course getting rather tired of knitting these little squares after completing 7 yesterday and knowing that there are 5 more in my future for today. Perhaps I’ll do the hat today to break it up.

Last night we had another fun filled evening of knitting. It’s sad to realize that we will not all be here together, knitting and laughing forever. We must enjoy the time we are given.

After the first day of freedom, The Boyfriend informed me that “the best part about you not working is that there isn’t a shower conflict in the morning." I had no idea we had a shower conflict. He just always let me choose. Poor Boyfriend. I like visiting in the mornings instead of running around packing lunch, walking, and getting ready.

6 Questions

As of Tuesday night, the Emergency blanket is half finished. Thank you to those who asked, the finger is useable. I had hoped to knit a strip each day for five days and then have the 6th day for the hat, booties, sewing, and blocking. So really I should have 3 finished strips not 2 ½ but I can’t complain too much.



I’m dreaming up what the matching hat should look like. I thought I’d take a shot at drawing on the computer. The crazy things I can do now! so exciting!
Here is a first rendering. I tried to get some knit texture in there.
My only concern is that worsted weight yarn might not allow for as many XOXOs as I’d like.

I take lots of notes, and record my thoughts on patterns and projects here and on Ravelry but I don’t do it consistently. For example the Fake Isle hat, when knit the first time killed my right hand as I was double stranding the black yarn. I loved the color variation of the Noro yarn but didn’t find the end product particularly smooshy as a good hat should be. And the end result was a ½ an inch to an inch too short so that throughout an evening it sneaks up over my ears. These are all good notes but will the help me in the future when I knit the pattern again? Will they help me if I work with the yarn again? Perhaps if I can sift through my other thoughts on the subject and find them. I want to attempt to be more organized and a bit more thoughtful about each project I complete. To that end, I’m going to answer 6 questions about each and hopefully that will help me recall what I liked, disliked, learned, felt, etc.
Yarn Questions:

1. How did the yarn feel in my hands?
2. What do I think of the drape or texture of the knitted fabric?
3. Do I want to use this yarn again?

Pattern Questions:

1. What would I do differently next time?
2. Are there any problems in the pattern?
3. What did I learn from this project?

I believe that my motivation to knit is directly proportional to the amount I’m learning. That’s the main reason why I cast on a new project with anticipation instead of knitting the same socks, bag and hats over and over. I have always hungered for knowledge. I listen to podcasts to learn new tricks and techniques. I read Elizabeth Zimmerman to capture her experience. I constantly talk to my knit sibs about their projects and want to know all the details and their thoughts on them. Something inside drives me to gain as much knowledge as possible (don’t worry, I do want to know about things besides knitting). Of my six questions, I think the last one is the most important and informs my happiness with a project more than all the others. Now enough knitting philosophy, I’ve got an Emergency Blanket to knit!

Also, I'm still waiting on my French Yarn. Stage 2 might be an uphill sprint if it doesn't arrive soon.

Knitting Emergency!

Saturday we had a knitting emergency! I know I know you are wondering how to deal with a knitting emergency. Well the first step is not to slice open your left index finger with a pair of scissors. That definitely does not help resolve said emergency.

Saturday morning I awoke groggy and anything but rested. The night before we’d watched Gone Baby Gone and found it disturbing. Not because of the images on the screen, or an resolved plot but because of the fear that inner city life here in the Northeast could be that coarse, grimy, vulgar, treacherous, and cruel. The movie wasn’t set in some distant past or foreign country. It was set during present day in a city not 100 miles from my front step. It was definitely an eye opening film and worthy of acclaim for both Afflecks. But the movie did not cause the knitting emergency.

So Saturday morning the folks, The Boyfriend, and I pile into the car and head north for a family reunion. 4.5 hours there, visit for 4 hours, and drive 4.5 hours back. It was crazy but Dad was driving so I knew there’d be some quality knitting time. As I’m knitting along on the boy’s hat, Mum mentions that the neighbors daughter recently had a baby and…(insert dramatic music here)… Mum would like me to knit a baby blanket, booties, and a hat for her… for say next weekend!

Now I’m a fast knitter owing mostly to the number of hours I spend knitting in a week (typically 30 but that’ll be increasing). Red warning lights start spinning in my head and I hear the ambulance approaching…I think a blanket, booties, and a hat in a week is that even possible? I do like a good challenge... and my calendar is pretty free this week. I say ok I’ll do it. I’ll need worsted weight baby yarn and a pattern, neither of which are in the car so I continue working the boy’s hat and nap intermittently throughout the ride.

We arrived back at the house around mid-night on Saturday and I’m doomed to have another night freighting over life in the inner city. Sunday I awake and watch the clock tick by to 10am when I can make a break for A.C. Moore to get some baby friendly, worsted weight, pink and white yarn. Mum has said she wants pink and white. She picks an XOXO baby blanket that is knit in 5 long sections. I get the yarn and race home. Sit and start my marathon of knitting. Sunday I knit for a good 8 hours and completed 5 squares, about 20% of the blanket. I’m doing good. Saturday shouldn’t be a problem.

Monday morning I get up, work on it a bit and head off to knitting class. As this class is devoted to the Ivy League Vest I do not work on the blanket. I work on the blanket some more throughout Monday afternoon intermingled with playing with kittens. Go ahead and tell me Big Papi, Nessa's boy isn't the cutiest kitten eva!

Then Monday night after completing the 4th square I cut the white yarn and am about to switch to the pink when my scissors slip and I cut an inch long slice out of my finger! Yeah it hurt but you know I was willing to work through the pain only the excessive blood wouldn’t go so well on the pink yarn. Phooey! I had to stop knitting for the night and allow the finger some time to regenerate.