Ooo Baby Knits

You’ll Knit Anything

If I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard that! I am officially securing my place in the Nerd Knitter’s Hall of Fame with my very own felted pocket protector. I was gifted a lovely pen and pencil set for Christmas (I love pen and pencil sets- they make me feel writerly and scholarly). Unfortunately, I destroyed the box the set came in trying to get the pen and pencil out. They were screwed in. What were “they” thinking? Didn’t “they” know someone would want to take them out and use them? Maybe even keep them in a nice box? What was I to do with a loose pen and pencil that belonged together? Now they can sleep cozily together, eagerly anticipating their daily adventures working crossword and sudoku puzzles.

   back:                              front:                             felted:   

This has been the Christmas that never ends- mostly because I keep buying stuff. (Note to self- stop buying stuff.) I set the Jaywalkers aside until I found reinforcement nylon to work in the heels and toes. Elann didn’t have any, but look what they did have. Yarn for a purse for DD#2, a gray vest, a blue summer sweater, and that green- I picked it out for a specific pattern, but I don't remember what. I hope I wrote it down somewhere. I did find reinforcement at Elizabeth's Fiber & Yarn Store, but It didn’t make sense to pay more for shipping than for a card of thread, so I checked the clearance isle and bought yarn for a scarf and socks. Yeah, I know, more pink. I’ve got to branch out. And speaking of branching out, I’m thinking I’ll knit another Branching Out with the white. The Woman in White is this month’s Knit the Classics book, and it’ll be a good knit-a-long project.

My goal this weekend was to finish the first mitten then knit booties. I've been sidetracked. DD#2 was to go with her youth group to throw a birthday party at a nursing home. Each teen was to bring a gift and as scarf was on the list of gift suggestions, I felt compelled to knit one. The Bow-Tie scarf is a quickie. Finished it last night, then the party was postponed due to inclement weather (but once again our forcast snow is rain). At least it's ready for next weekend.

This morning, my Sunday school class took up a collection for Little Life Crisis Pregnancy Center. I volunteered to deliver it this week and hate to go without a little knit something, so I started a MDK kimono. Hubby bought me a most excellent knitterly accouterment, so today will be spent with football, buffalo wings, baby sweater, and a screwdriver. A most excellent day.

Merry Christmas!

For me, anyway. Mom and Dad gave me a swift to go with my ball winder. Many thanks, Mom and Dad! Oh, so very much fun. My family just doesn’t understand- can’t you just do it by hand like you always do? Why doesn’t all yarn come in balls? They just don’t get it. (Hence I will not clue them in on how much these little toys cost.) I have done more than wind yarn…. I knit it!

Good thing I like pink, since half way up the back of my pink Debbie Bliss sweater I remembered that I have two pink cotton sweaters in my closet already. At least this one is a darker rose, and with my two pinkish scarves I can do some mixing and matching. (Should I mention that I ordered more pink yarn? And yellow is my favorite color!) The next socks I knit will definitely have to be pink. Must color coordinate.

The shawl I stalled on is finished. Knitting for Children does more for Parkland Hospital than just baby things. Slippers and shoulder shawls are much needed, so I worked a couple more inches and bound off. It’s longish in the back for it’s width, but fine for a small shawl. The pattern is hard to see, but it really is quite pretty. If I knit another, I'll increase every row so can make it plenty wide. Also knit a hat over the weekend for Ship Support and a pair of booties for Warm Hearts- Warm Babies.

Then there was the frogging. I’m pretty sure I learned to count in kindergarten. Everyone else did. And you’d think using a pattern I’ve used a dozen times- especially my own- I could get it right. But no. As I was unraveling the yoke, Hubby declared that I have now officially un-knit more than I have knit. Probably true. A friend is expecting her first grandbaby in March. She asked me to knit a sweater for the little one and offered to pay, but of course I said heck no. I’m going to knit, so I may as well knit for someone who will really appreciate it. We decided on mint green since the gender will be a surprise. No picture yet- use your imagination.

Also in the frog pond is the preemie blanket I started last weekend. I keep thinking I can get a preemie blanket out of a skein of LB Jamie, and I keep running short. Will I ever learn? There is a middle-out pattern in one of the EZ books I’m going to try. I’ll find out how many licks in a Tootsie Pop, and if it’s too small, I can keep going in another color for a border.

Also knit and still on the needles is the beginnings of a pair of mittens. Yay mittens! I’m still using the rag wool mittens I got in college a (ahem) couple of years ago. I keep thinking I’ll sew up the holes, but new mittens are even better. This is a pattern by Gail Bable for the Knit Baby Surprise group (click for a picture of finished mittens). It’s an intro to fancy-pants mitten knitten that I know will entice me to try more. (I have the yarn and pattern ready to go.) Using worsted weight, they'll knit up quickly.

I gathered fresh parsley and chives from the herb garden a couple of days ago, but it’s finally turning cold. With temperatures dropping below 60 (yeah, we're freezing here), the puppies are sleeping inside more. Sammie usually is sprawled across someone’s feet, and my cold feet don’t mind a bit.

No Rules- Just Knitting

I wrote my New Years Resolutions, and not a single one has anything to do with knitting. A couple may apply to knitting as well as other parts of my life, but no resolutions just for knitting. No matter what I say, I will knit what I want with what I want. If I see a yarn I like and it’s in budget, I’ll buy it. If I want to start something before I finish something else, I will.
Some days I knit a little,   some days I knit a lot.

Here’s what I’ve wanted to do so far this year.

Cruising along Hwy 40 in December, I saw a sign for Holly Bee Yarns. Dad and I were on our way to my doctor appointment, and we had time to stop for lunch or for yarn. I love my dad. We stopped for yarn. Valdese, NC is a very small historical town that will be fun to explore- but another day. I bought a few things to try out. The pink and white cotton will be a hand towel from Mason Dixon Knitting. I think I’ll like it. We’ll see how it washes. The other is acrylic that I’m not as happy with. It’s soft and easy on the hands and the colors are vibrant, but it’s loosely plied and the fibers are very short. Every time I knit with it, the little fibers get in my contacts. Definitely not good for babies, but it is thick and warm so I'll knit up what I bought for Knit for Kids. The next time I go I think I’ll try some of the other cottons.

My Jaywalkers are knitting up nicely. The pattern is easy and shows off the colors in the yarn so well- they were meant for each other. My feet can’t wait.

Now I’m trying to decide on a sweater to start. I’ve narrowed it down to two.
    
I even have the yarn called for- never done that before. Lottie in Debbis Bliss Cotton Angora, or Pinwheel Sweater in Mister Joe Blanket from Elann. I tend to buy yarn without a pattern in mind, then mix and match what I have. This may be so much fun I’ll start both.

Lookie What I Can Do!

Behold my Christmas present.

No further words are needed, but that’s never stopped me before. Actually, I knew I was getting it. I picked it out. I watched the lovely sales lady at Holly Bee Yarns demonstrate how to use it. I carried it to the car. Then I had to give it back to Dad so he could wrap it up and give it to me for Christmas which we didn’t have with my family until Thursday. It was a long wait. I’m trying to make up for lost time.

This is as far as I got. After I wound a skein of the Knit Picks Sock Landscape, I had to start knitting with it. This yarn puts most of what I have in the Sock Yarn Hall o' Shame. This is soft. Really soft. It’ll will have to be hand washed, but it will be oh so worth it.

My poor sister. I have more unfinished knits for her than you could shake a knitting needle at. Add another to the collection. Her sweater sits in a box. Fronts, back, but no sleeves. My code turned into more than a code and I’ve done very little knitting other than small mindless projects. Other knits were finished. My SIL loved her scarf- it’s the first she’s ever owned. Not much scarf weather in Florida. She had to buy a coat here because she couldn't find one there. I'll have to knit her another one to go with her new coat.

I finished a purse for my niece. It’s on its way to Florida to be gifted. But guess what. Looking through my archives, I found that I knit her a purse last year. Doh. I came across the yarn I dyed and thought I must have forgotten it. I didn’t. Now she has two.

I even finished a present for me. I spent most of the day Wednesday waiting to see a doctor who took a quick glance at me, declared me sick, wrote prescriptions, and sent me on my way. I finished the toe of sock #1 and half of sock #2 in the waiting room, the rest watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy Thursday while the rest of my family gathered at my parents house for food and fun and gift giving and more food and more fun. At least I have socks.

I should devote January to finishing DS’s knits. I really should.

Happy New Year to all!

All In a Day's Work

I hab a bad code. As my family puts it, I am cootified. DD#2 had her Christmas lunch yesterday, so in an effort to keep most of the house germ free, I hid out in the den knitting. DD had a friend come early to help out, and they fixed quite a spread! We'll be eating left over cocktail weenies and finger sandwiches until next year. Teenaged girls can put the food away- especially when there are no teenaged boys around- but eight girls cannot eat 15 sandwiches. What you can't see is the punch bowl and dessert- brownies, angel food cake with strawberries and whip cream, and petit fours. My sweet tooth is very happy today.

While they partied, I busied myself with hats for the homeless shelter-

I'll post directions in the photo album. Now back to my sister's sweater. 3 days!

The Big Christmas Countdown!

And I'm not talking about how many days left- even though there are only 5. I'm talking about how many gifts left to knit! Mom's sweater is finished, wrapped, delivered, unwrapped, and worn. (I thought a red and green sweater might come in handy before the big day) SIL's scarf is under the tree as is big brother's hat. My MIL will not be getting the green lace scarf that takes about an hour an inch to knit. She'll be getting the Branching Out scarf I knit earlier this year. I finished the booties to go with the Santa hats and those are mailed off. Knocked off a few more hats for the homeless shelter. Those will be delivered in the next day or two. Now, still on the list: my sister's striped sweater (the back is almost finished) and a purse to felt for a niece. Hmmm. I don't have to have those finished until Thursday. Gee, I have lots of time. What else can I start?

A Walk Down Christmas Lane

The first year my husband and I were married, money was tight to say the least. My job as a day care center director was cut due to lack of funding (contrary to popular opinion, it was not because I ordered too many hunormous cans of green beans), and Hubby was working in a hardware store while going to grad school. We bought a $2 cedar tree from a young boy selling them on the side of the road. I used tin cookie cutters tied with red ribbon for ornaments along with an assortment of other weird household items. I made felt stockings (the hearts and Santa ones) and stamped blank newsprint for wrapping paper using red tempera paint and a potato.  All the bows on gifts we gave were white and silver- left over from wedding gifts.

The next year, I tied red bows to the Norfolk pine we’d been given as a wedding gift and put a disco light behind it. Then for several years, we cut the tree ourselves- and not on Christmas tree farms. (I use the term we loosely as I’m not allowed to know where a couple came from.) Charlie Brown had nothing on us! DDs made lots of paper and glitter ornaments. I strung popcorn, and the star, used until a couple of Christmases ago, was a toilet paper roll sandwiched between two star shapes cut from cardboard, covered with glued on macaroni, and spray painted gold.

We just bought our tree this year. It’s a 7 ½ foot artificial tree with clear and colored lights- and a remote control. How ridiculous is that? (To save face a little amongst my naturalist and crafting friends, we had a real tree last year, fresh cut from the Blue Ridge and smelling so sweet it made DD#2’s allergies flare, and she couldn’t get near it. She had to use the back door. She couldn’t even walk through the same room. At least she couldn’t snoop.)  Most of the ornaments are hand made, although I’m no longer allowed to put on the paper and glitter ornaments. I do the same thing my Mom did- let the kids decorate then sneak back in when no one’s around to rearrange and put on the ones I like.

And to carry on tradition, there is no way I’m going to finish all my knit gifts. As usual, I’ve gotten side tracked. Mittens for the little girl we sponsor and her sister have become an all consuming obsession lately. With a little help from an Internet friend, I’ve discovered the smallest are okay, but the largest are too large. I have more mittens to knit. Santa hats and booties for the hospital are too fun not to knit. I got the idea from Wool Windings but didn’t have the pattern printed so decided to wing it. Too much fun. Just need to finish the booties.

The lace scarf is languishing. One thing I’ve learned about lace knitting- it requires a clear head. I get headaches when the weather changes and we keep going through the four seasons at least once a week. My head is out of whack, so I’ve had to keep my knitting simple. Mom’s sweater is simple- just need to block and sew. The pewter clasps from Schoolhouse Press came today. They are luverly. I can't wait to give it to her.

Now to tackle my sister's sweater. I found this pattern from Garnstudio that I really like. I have to figure out how the do the stripes. These are all the colors I have, but I don't think the pink really works with the rest. And I may leave out the single balls for logistical reasons- how do I divide it for fronts, back, and sleeves? I'm not sure how to figure out a stripe sequence unless I knit a row for each ball of yarn in that color. That way I don't run out of one before another.

SIL’s scarf is a breeze (but we won’t talk about how many times I started the setup rows.) Iris Schreier's patterns are fun to knit. One day I'll try her yarns. My brother’s hat is finished (go Hookies!). One down, elevendy-dozen to go. Two weeks- no problem.

Back to knitting and eating sugar cookies. Have you tried the Chocolate Truffle Kisses? Oh so good with a cup of Cinnamon Viennese Coffee.

The Post With No Title (unless you count this as a title, in which case this is a post with a boring title)

I am at my most creative just before I go to sleep. Catchy titles and witticisms for my blog pop into my head. I design amazing sweaters, compose symphonies, write Pulitzer Prize winning novels. I think to myself (as I have no one else to think to), this is so profound. I know I’ll remember it in the morning. But of course I don’t. I have paper, pencil, and a flashlight in reach, but when I’m perfectly comfortable as I am, why move? So, about all that great stuff I planned to write- forget it.

DD #2’s surgery went well. We spent a long day at the hospital (I’m sure I didn’t become a surgeon because there’s no way I’m awake enough at 5:30 am to perform surgery), but got to come home that night. I took my knitting bag and worked on baby booties. There’s nothing like comfort knitting. DD felt well enough to pig out with the rest of the crew Thanksgiving Day, but that’s about it. She’s still very sore and can’t sleep well, but all is fine.

Christmas knitting is coming along, but not as quickly as it needs to. It keeps getting interrupted by Christmas eating, Christmas baking, Christmas eating, Christmas decorating, Christmas shopping, and did I mention Christmas eating? Don’t you just love all the different flavors of Hershey’s Kisses they come out with for the holidays? We have an assortment in the candy bowl, and I can’t eat just one. I have to eat one of each. Back to knitting. The lace scarf looks like a green blob, but that K7 tog thing- not so bad. Actually, you knit the same 7 tog 3 times with yos in between. Still, not so bad. I may actually finish it. Mom’s sweater will definitely be finished. At 10 st = 4”, it doesn’t take a lot of sts. It’s #25 in the Fall 2006 Vogue. The box of assorted colors will be my sister’s, same pattern in stripes. She likes stripes. Stripes like her. The yarn is Lang Nuvola, 100% washable wool, and incredibly soft. It’s a joy to knit- just feels so good.

I spent a day last week finishing up old stuffs to make room for new stuffs. The fall sweater is sewn and buttoned but with the wrong buttons. That’s what I get for taking so long to get to it. I can’t find one of the floweredy looking clay buttons I had intended to use. These will do for now. If it will get cold again, I’ll wear it. This weekend “they” are calling for temps in the low 30s at night and upper 60s during the day. What’s up with that? I can’t start the day in long johns, strip down to shorts by afternoon, then reverse the process by dinner. I’ll spend all day changing clothes. It’ll be easier to stay inside and knit.

Three baby sweaters are also sewn and buttoned. I do so love knitting baby things, but I’ve got to finish my Christmas knitting before I do more. A friend is having her first grandchild in March, so she’s first on my list. They think it’s a boy, but they aren’t positive- the umbilical cord is in a strategic place, if you know what I mean. I’m thinking mint and white will work either way.

Emergency knitting! I missed the pounding for our new pastor and his wife, so I knit up a few dishcloths to give as a house-warming gift. Other than a hat or two, that would be about all the knitting going on around here. Time to knock out a few rows of the scarf. When DD#2 gets home from school, we’re baking sugar cookies and getting back to the Christmas eating.

Here It Is

The long awaited post. Have you been asking yourself, I wonder if Michelle has recovered from her knitting funk? Just how much does she make her family suffer when she gets this way? Did she finish sewing up the fall sweater that perfectly matches the leaves on her neighbor’s tree? Has she started her Christmas knitting? Or has she given the needles up entirely and taken up bungee jumping?

The answers are: yes, there’s nothing like ditching everything and starting something new; they’re strong- they can take it; no, but she has started; well, duh, hasn’t everyone; and no- she’s saving that for her golden years.

Today I am brain dead and exhausted. (Long-winded explanation to follow. I assure you it’s optional reading. It will not be included on the final exam.) So enough witty banter, and on to the pictures. It’s overcast and seriously threatening to rain so don’t expect them to be of Ansel Adams quality. My daughter took better pictures with her Barbie camera.

There's nothing like knitting quick stuff with big yarn to boost my knitting ego. I haven't heard from our sponsor child's grandmother to get her sizes, but I figured if I shoot for big, she can always grow into it. This is a simple, knit in one piece pattern from the Lion Brand site and Jiffy I had in the stash. Kinda plain, but practical. I'm trying to think of something to girly it up, but as I've mentioned- brain dead.

A while back I used my 40% off coupon at Hobby Lobby to buy a skein of Sweet Delight Twist to try out. I like it- soft, squishy, pretty colors. I'll buy it again. It's perfect for quick baby knits. So voila sweater and hat. Well, almost hat. The color is much prettier than in the picture.

39 days, 9 hours, and 18 minutes until Christmas. I should have no trouble finishing this scarf for my mother-in-law. It only took my 2 hours to get this far, but then I had to restart it twice. Not sure about the dozen other gifts I have planned, but this will be finished. If it kills me. Which it may. It's so soft, but the mohairyness tangles and sticks together. I had trouble finding needles pointy enough. This is a very old pair that belonged to my grandmother. I love being reminded of her when I use them. I just hope they are pointy enough for the KNIT 7 TOGETHER!! coming up in the next section.

Here’s the non-knitting part that explains why I haven’t posted. If this isn’t good enough, I’ll get a note from my mother. DD#2 is a high school senior. Since I last posted, we have visited two colleges she is interested in Appalachian State University and Radford University (my alma mater). Long, exhausting, but fun days. ASU is on a mountain. You have to climb it to get to the student center. I am so grateful she still enjoys hanging out with her mom. As long as I take her to the mall and supply her with Starbucks, I’m sure she always will. We also found out that she will have gall bladder surgery Monday, so we’ve had numerous doctor appointments. To add to the fun, DD#1 had her car broken into- a window smashed- while she was at work (hers was one of many). Everything stolen was recovered- at the mall of all places- and the window is replaced. Things will be better. I will knit my way to happiness, and pray my way to joy.

A Pair of Sock

Yes, I know a pair is two (hence sock), but since I knit it twice I’m calling it a pair. This is my blog, and I can do what I want. I did start a third sock so I’ll have two. I know children have two feet. I personally have two left feet, but that’s another story.

Do you sense frustration in this post? Can you feel the negativism? I’m having a bad day, a bad week, and I can’t believe there’s no more Halloween candy. And don’t tell me maybe if I had put a banana instead of Snickers on my Cheerios there would still be some. How was I supposed to know I would need one later? First I finish a sock with the leftover fall sweater yarn. (And don’t ask me how the fall sweater sewing up is coming. It’s coming, all right? It’s coming. Leave me alone.)  I take a close look at it and decide the gauge is too loose. It’s destined for A4A and it needs to extra warm. I knit it over. Meanwhile, two skeins of luscious yarns come from theknitter.com for Christmas presents. I knit furiously for several days to finish the fan and feather shawl I have started so I can start another shawl for Mom. Last night I hold it up thinking, wow. This looks long enough from the needle to the tip. I must be about finished. So I spread it out on the bed to get an idea of how wide it is, only it won’t spread. It’s barely wide enough to cover my shoulders. If I keep knitting to get the right width, it’ll be long enough to drag the floor. What am I going to do with this flat ice cream cone shaped piece of knit thing? Wrap up a giant piece of candy corn? No. because I ate that, too.

At least my Fetching wrist warmers are warming and I only had to knit two. At least the MDK kimono and booties were finished without a hitch. At least the dogs have a new bed. (Thought I’d throw that one in there.) At least the winter knitting mags are coming in.

I’m going to go drink a bottle of chocolate syrup and watch chick flicks.