New Sweater for Isabel

This was supposed to be a February Baby Sweater, from the old Knitter's Almanac. However, I forgot to bring the book with me while I was working on it and improvised the lace. (I've knit gull wing lace so many times, I was sure I had it memorized.) I guess I was off by one stitch on each repeat and ended up with this lace pattern.

It doesn't matter. She loves the sweater! Now I just need some buttons.

The yarn is Vintage Wool from Berocco. It washes well, but I thought it was slippery and splitty. The metal needles I was using weren't working for me, so I switched to the acrylic needles from www.knitpicks.com and I had a much easier time.

Quilt

I'm required to wear plain scrubs these days. There was a time when I dressed like a Hospital Weird Al. The prints are horrible and unflattering and I actually agree that solid colors look more professional. I can't believe I wore these scrubs in public. Ouch. I am a crafter, though, and I couldn't throw away 30 lbs of fabric without trying to rescue it first.

There are a lot of memories (not to mention blood borne pathogens) lurking in this mess. (Just kidding about the diseases. I've washed and ironed any and all forms of hepatitis to death.)

I cut the tops into 5 inch squares and did a simple 9 patch. The backing is an old sheet. I am really proud of myself for recycling so well. My dog likes it.

I probably have enough 5 inch squares left to make another twin sized quilt. I also have at least 20 lbs of scrubs that haven't been cut. I have a lot of sewing to do.

Laundry Magic

I'm working on many projects at once right now. I've started working crazy hours and I don't have as much time to do things as I used to.

Instant gratification projects are really making me happy. I felted a pair of slippers for my BFF. I make her the same pattern in a different color every year. These little clogs are quick and easy. Since the original pattern isn't available online anymore, I might write up my modifications someday. I've made at least 5 pairs of these, but never a pair for myself. I can add that to my list of things to do.

Once these clogs are dry, I'm going to give them a haircut to get all of the fuzzies off.

I also made a really fun baby blanket. The technique is all over the internet, so I won't bore you with the details.

(You stack some flannel, sew on the bias, slice the top layers, then launder.)

The coolest thing was throwing the sewn and cut flannel into the washer and pulling chenille out of the dryer. I am so easily amused. I'd recommend a flannel ragg or flannel chenille baby blanket to anyone who is interested in starting a basic quilt. A crooked seam won't matter much and the end effect is really fun.

I've already bought more flannel to make a larger blanket for my daughter. The only thing I'll do differently this time is to sew the bias lines closer together.

In other news, I've decided not to beat myself up for crappy pictures anymore. If I waited for perfect pictures, I'd never blog. I won't apologize for it anymore, either. I'm not a photographer. I do my best with what I have. Perfection is for crazy people.

Completed project

I made a Wisp. I used a yarn my best friend gave me for my birthday. It's Schoppel-Wolle Zauberball. It's more of a sock yarn than lace, but I wanted something soft around my neck. My 6 year old has adopted this scarf, though. It matches her coat.

I've been documenting all of my artsy-fartsy projects at my other blog http://meetmeinthedayroom.wordpress.com. Stop by if you're into embroidered weapons and similar nonsense.

TASER, 2009, wool and cotton 11 by 16

I knit a bit

This was my traveling to OK project. I love entrelac and Noro Kureyon. Together? Forget about it.

I was a little disgusted by how many Eucalan washes it took to get this shawl clean.

Here is the first wash.

Here in the 5th wash.

Here is the 10th wash. Ew.

We are getting settled in Oklahoma. I'm going to reserve judgement for a while. I don't actually know if I like it here or not. It's really hard to say yet.

Just like a peasant cap

Pattern is here. This was yarn salvaged from a horrible sweater. Just horrible.

He doesn't ask for much

David asked me to make him this hat. Urban Outfitters sold a nasty acrylic one a few years ago and my husband wanted a wool one. He never asks for anything, so I made it.
It's lined with merino wool and the colorwork was rough, thrifted tapestry wool. My only regret is that I didn't make it in John Deere colors. My husband is gay for John Deere. Ask anyone.

Packing

We leave for Oklahoma in a few weeks. I have been sorting through bins of craft supplies and finished projects. It's amazing how much I've made in this house. This bin of socks and mittens is only part of what I knit. So many were given as gifts.

These tubs are full of handspun yarn. I sold a bit and knit a bit and gave quite a bit away, but I still have almost two full tubs. I am kinda proud that I managed to spin my boredom and sadness into something wonderful and tangible.

We might not get base housing for up to 6 months. We'd prefer to buy a house, but the paperwork from the VA is holding up our loan. We don't want to rent and be stuck in a lease for a whole year. We really aren't sure what we'll do. We'll likely be spending quite a bit of time in TLF (temporary living facility) while we scramble to find a place to live. I made this giant tote to make living out of a suitcase more pleasant. I made up the pattern as I went along. I used fusible batting instead of interfacing and the bag is both sturdy and cozy. I might make some more as gifts when we get settled in Oklahoma.

Arm Flab Cozies

At a certain age, a woman's upper arms start to "flutter." That's the nicest way I can say it. I don't mind wearing sleeveless shirts and dresses around the house, but I don't go out in public that way.

The first arm flab cozy is a handspun linen Whisper Cardigan. I modified the pattern to suit my yarn, but I didn't take any notes. I enjoyed spinning the linen. It's a bit rough against the skin, but it's absorbent and cool to wear.

The second arm flab cozie is a top down raglan without a front. Sorry that the modeled photos shows bulging, sunburned cleavage. My husband was being sneaky when he took the picture. Bamboo actually feels cooler than bare arms. This shrug was my best friend in Korea.

The third one is a One Skein Wonder. I used the leftover cotton yarn from a skirt I knit last year. It's the warmest to wear, but I like it enough.

I made a hat

I knit a leaf beret. The pattern is from Melissa of www.knittingschooldropout.com fame. I modified it a bit because I wanted a beanie, not a beret. I didn't have the right yarn for a beret. Plus I have a huge noggin. I don't want to call more attention to the vast size and Charlie Brown-esque roundness of my giant head.

The yarn is some handspun I've had sitting around for over a year. I like the deep forest green with the leaf pattern. I love the look of the leaves in the bulky, bumpy handspun.

I've got a lot going on right now. Some good things are happening. I'm working on showing some of my work in a real, grown up gallery. I am really excited about this. It's nice to know that all the pain I've slogged through this year has been turned into something good. Validation is a great selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor. For reals.

I recorded a piece for Insubordiknit's podcast. I forgot how bad I sounded while I was battling my allergies this spring. I hope you take the time to listen to this podcast. It's all about fiber arts as therapy. You know I relate to that.

Sewing Again

I've been inspired to sit at my sewing machine and make fun stuff again. I finally caught up on all of the old Threadbanger podcasts and couldn't wait to start. If you like crafting, you really should check them out.

The first thing I made this week is a pencil case for my 6 year old. If you can't tell, it's a puppy. I modified the zakka bunny pencil case from Zakka Sewing to suit Isabel. She loves it. Rather than pick apart my mistakes, I've decided to throw myself into making stuff without being critical. I'm enjoying. I think I might be relaxing. I can't be sure.

I've been sewing underwear, too. I used the Cheeky Panties pattern from Burda Style to recycle t-shirts. I have a stack of old tees ready to reconstruct. Apparently, any time I buy my husband a t-shirt he sneaks it downstairs to the GIVE AWAY basket. Meh. His loss is my gain.

I went to Joann's and bought some proper lingerie elastic. Even without the right kind, these knickers are wearable. I've made a few adjustments to the pattern to fit my booty. Now all I have to do is sew.

Celebrating my heterosexuality* with socks

*To all of my gay friends, I know you don't mind as long as we don't make out in public.

I know most of you prefer your socks to match--probably almost all of you do. If you love the symmetry of twin socks, I support that. Most of my handknit socks are heterosexual. Two socks give me two chances to making something unique and special.

I used to wonder why I think of socks as individuals. I think it comes down to two reasons. The first reason came from my second stepfather. He referred to sock mates as "brothers." I really hated that guy. Everyone knows that socks have mates. They pair bond like humans.

The second reason is probably that my dad is an identical twin. I was raised with the attitude that the more two people look alike, the more they are really exactly the opposite. I guess I've always thought that being exactly like something else is somehow bad or boring.

Maybe I'm just thinking about my marriage too much these days. I have to start a new life with my husband after being single for a year. How am I supposed to pick up the pieces of our old life? The thought of living together again is frightening.

I knit this sock couple from Knit Picks Risatta. It's probably the best elastic yarn I've used, but I don't really like elastic yarn--it splits and feels weird. One is knit from toe up, one cuff down. I made up the cable patterns as I went along.

Whatever their differences, these socks are mated.

Lots of color

I bought some Red Heart sock yarn (Spring Stripe colorway) at Joann's a few months ago and forgot I had it. I threw it in my suitcase when I went to Korea to give it a test drive. I've been in a crocheting mood lately, so I decided to try out a Clapochet.

I've tried to crochet a Clapotis shawl a few times before. I had no idea that a pattern already existed. It was pretty easy and has the distinctive Clapotis diagonal stripe. I like it. I used almost exactly 3 skeins to get a smallish shawl. I am thinking of adding some buttons to make it convertible like Wisp.

My car needed to be washed very badly.I had my camera with me and got a few pictures. My daughter loves riding along. Her favorite part is the tri-color polish spray. I have to agree with her. Both of us love color.

Shortening a toe-up sock

I finished my entrelac vacation socks. They are gorgeous, but too long. It's pretty easy to adjust sock length on cuff-down socks, but toe-ups and afterthought heels are a bit of a challenge. I'm never willing to unravel a whole sock to shorten it 2 cm and I'm not afraid of grafting, so I do surgery on my socks to get them just right.

I had a camera handy, so I decided to document my process.

The first step is to mark the sock where you want to shorten it. A locking stitch marker works great. Then you start picking up the entire row by putting the right leg of each stitch onto spare sock needles.

Lookin' good!

The you pick up a stitch one row above the picked up row and pull it until it's about an inch long. Cut this stitch. Now unravel the clipped row. I used a crochet hook to pull out the stitches. (It won't unravel the same way as regular knitting because you're working in the opposite direction. You'll need to pull the end though each stitch.)

Ah, that's better!


Now you graft the toe shut. You could use the tail you just unraveled, but I didn't want to deal with kinky yarn. I cut a new length of fresh yarn and wove in the ends.

Brand new toes! They fit.