Mrs. G Knits

Things I am learning, #4759.34

Did you know that obsessively tracking my Knitpicks shipment is not actually making it come any quicker?  I know, it surprised and dismayed me, too.

I can feel spring fever starting to seep in around the edges these days.  Maybe it's because today is unusually warm (we've got a forecasted high of almost 60F today) or maybe it's because February is almost over, but I'm starting to feel a wee bit hopeful for spring.  Winter is my favorite season, but I like it when the seasons change all the same. 

Imagination - lost boys

It has occurred to me that this eensy bit of springy-feelingness may be responsible for this sudden need for brightly-colored fingerless gloves.  There's the picture of the yarn on the left, right from Knitpicks' website.  Isn't it just so wonderful?  And now that I look at it, it really is quite springy... blue for the sky, light green for the new grass, and brown and black for the inevitable mud we get here in the mid-Atlantic.

Amazing how much free time I get back once the holidays are over

Alligator Scarf

I finished the alligator scarf.  It came out at juuuust 6 feet long, and really I could have continued for another few pattern repeats, but I was just so done with that scale pattern.  I think the extra length is really good, though, so I think what I may do if I make another is insert an additional 2 rows of garter stitch between scale repeats; I don't think there would be any ill effect on the look of the scarf, and it might help me be a little more cheerful about knitting it.  ;)

I've gotten a wild hair to have a pair of crazy-colored fingerless gloves.  Why that is, I really couldn't tell you.  I just want a pair.  I've placed a Knitpicks order for some of their Imagination hand-painted sock yarn in the Lost Boys colorway because once I saw those colors, I couldn't get them out of my mind.  I've also bought a ball of Essential in black and one in Mermaid (to pick up that light, bright blue in the Lost Boys yarn) for accent colors; we'll see when the yarn gets here which one I think is better.  I'm leaning toward the Mermaid, figuring I'd best go big or go home, but we'll see.  Those who know me will know what a radical departure from the norm this is for me to begin with.  Generally, if it's not black, I won't wear it... but for some reason I want these crazy fingerless gloves in the worst way.

Raphael and his mittens

While waiting for the Knitpicks order to get here (I'm thinking it was sent via "slow boat to "China" courier method...) I started on (and finished!) a set of mittens for my middle son.  They're from Kate Gilbert's Gifted pattern, and the pattern is every bit as quick and easy as it promises it will be.  I finished these easily in two evenings, out of Noro Yoroi (a super bulky cotton, wool, and silk blend) on US size 10 1/2 needles.  Highly recommended if you're looking for a super-quick mittens pattern!

And since I am still waiting for the slow boat to China, I've continued work on the Muscari socks.  I'm nearing the toe area on the first sock, so there is a light at the end of the tunnel!  (Well, the first tunnel, anyway!)  In my Knitpicks order I also included a set of the nickel-plated double-point needles, and I'm thinking the second sock might be an excellent way to try them out.  I generally use bamboo double-pointed needles, but I'm growing weary of the bendiness.  All of my bamboo double-points are warped and bendy.

The next project

Alligator Scarf

I bought the kit for this alligator scarf from Morehouse Merino in August of 2007 and it was always "my next project".  After I got done with this, I was going to do the alligator scarf.  Then something else got in the way.  After I got done with that, I was going to do the alligator scarf.  And so on and so forth.

I finally started it.  I'm much further along now than the photo shows -- I've actually got the scarf to its intended length, but since Mr. G likes long scarves, I bought an extra ball of yarn to make it longer.  I have to admit, the scales were cool to knit for a while, but I'm kind of over them now.  They involve adjusting tension more than I like to do (I like to knit evenly, and these are not knit evenly) so it's a bit of a slog but I'm hanging in there.  I have the squid hat hanging over my head as a hibernating project; I don't need another...

And next will be Kate Gilbert's Gifted mittens for my 5 year old son.  He has lost just about every pair of gloves he has, and the poor kid's hands are cold.  This looks like a quick pattern I can use with some stash yarn, so if he loses these ones, too, it won't be the end of the world. 

It is done

Cobblestone Pullover

Mr. G's Cobblestone Pullover is done.  It almost took me an entire year to do, and really I didn't knit much else in 2008.  Dang that took a long time.  I love the result, and so does he (thankfully!) but I think it will be a long time before I agree to knit an adult sweater for anyone other than myself again.  I work full-time and am in grad school part-time, so I don't have the time to put into anything this ambitious. 

I feel like I need a nap, or a cigarette and a drink, or something after finishing this and weaving in all of the ends and everything.

Christmas Crafting Recap

Now that Christmas is past and I'm no longer crafting during every available waking moment, I'll recap what I made for the holiday.

Lace Hat

First is a lace hat I knitted for my mother, modeled by yours truly.  It's from the Fern Glade pattern in the Winter 2008 Knitty.  I loved making this hat.  The lace pattern was just complex enough to keep me interested, but not so convoluted that I couldn't memorize it fairly easily.  I loved that the instructions for the lace repeats were written out and not just charted; I know lots of people love lace charts, but I'm not one of them.  I've heard everything everyone has said -- oh, once you learn to read them, they're great, yadda yadda -- but it's not an issue of comprehension with me.  I just do not find them intuitive.  Anyway, little rant over; suffice it to say that the written out lace instructions were very much appreciated by this knitter.

Felted Mitten

The other knitting project I did for Christmas this year was a pair of felted mittens for my mother-in-law.  I used the Spinderella basic felted mitten pattern, and for the cuff, I held fun fur yarn (Patons Cha Cha) along with the wool.  Mainly, I did this because I'd never felted anything with fun fur on it before and I wanted to see what would happen.  It is a nice coincidence that I also really like the finished project and I think my mother-in-law will, too.  I even have to admit that the fun fur cuffs make the mittens deliciously cozy to wear, and who knew I would ever say that about fun fur?!  I did hate knitting with it, but I can't deny that the finished product really does look (and feel) great.

2008 Christmas Pajamas

And finally, I made the kids their annual Christmas pajamas.  I used a very plush fleece with a penguin print that I bought at JoAnn Fabrics for the body and some red cotton-lycra ribbing for the cuffs and bands.  Using the ribbing sped up the process considerably, since otherwise I'd've had to set up my coverstitch and that just complicates matters (even though the result when I use it is undeniably more professional-looking and durable than when I hem things with a simple straight stitch.)  I'm not sure how much I love the bands at the bottoms of the tops in terms of how they look on the kids, but the pajamas are cute and the kids love them, so I suppose that's all that matters there.  My sister saw the pajamas and felt the fabric and requested a set for herself for her birthday in January, so yesterday we ran out to JoAnn Fabrics to get some more plush fleece.  They were out of the penguin print but had a nice red with white stars, so I guess she'll be getting those for her birthday. :)

Next up is finishing my husband's sweater -- I only have the top of one sleeve and the yoke to go and I'm done!  Trying to get that finished before I go back to work on January 5th...

Mr. G's Cobblestone Pullover

Cobblestone Pullover - 25%

Mr. G's Cobblestone Pullover (link to Ravelry project) is coming along apace.  It's slow going for me, since I've had so little time to knit lately, but I've been plugging along with it and am about to be rewarded... only 3 more inches or so and I get to start the sleeve area.  Suppose I should look ahead on the pattern to see just how that will be accomplished -- this is the first pullover I've knit from the bottom up.  Generally I'm a fan of the top-down raglan (Ravelry link), but I wanted to try something a little different this time.

There's a spot toward the top of what I've knitted where the stripes obviously don't match up.  (It's been difficult getting them to match up -- the balls of this yarn are so small that I think I've been through 4 or 5 balls of yarn already.)  I'm not sure how I feel about that.  I'd be lying if I said I even realized it was there before now -- bad knitter, no cookie! -- and I am scared to ask Mr. G how he feels about it.  I really, really don't want to have to re-do that last 3 inches or so.  Suppose I'll bring it up to him today, since I'd rather re-do it now if it needs re-doing rather than wait till it's done and then he won't wear it because of the weird striping. 

I've been knitting a lot while watching TV or hanging with the kids, so the Muscari sock has gotten no love.  Counting while knitting is incompatible with paying incomplete attention to one's knitting, unfortunately.  I've done about an inch more on the foot from when I previously posted, but not too much progress being made there.  And I'm shelving my knitting for the moment, anyway, since it's Halloween costume season, and though I said I wouldn't be making my kids' costumes, I can't resist how much they love things I've made for them. 

Orange ghost - Halloween 2007

Kid #1 wants to be a ghost, so I'll be reprising this theme from last year, but with some engineering improvements: most of all, I want to make the point at which the inner hood (that's the dark orange) meets the outside costume into a narrow elastic casing, with 1/8" elastic inside.  I won't pull it too tight, but that point needs some sort of support to keep it from doing what you see in the picture, which is turning inside out.  Also, I thought the woven outside fabric would stop the face-hole from stretching, but no dice.  So the elastic should serve to provide that support.  Oh - and Kid #1 actually wants to be a white ghost, unlike Mr. Individual over there.

Kid #2 (pictured at left) wants to be a bat this year.  I'm putting together a basic black interlock hoodie and sweatpants from the basic patterns in Kwik Sew's Sewing for Children.  (I adore that book, by the way, and recommend it to anyone who sews for kids.)  I'll elasticize the hem of the hood as well with the 1/8" elastic -- I am an elasticizing fool right now -- to keep it on his head.  I'm going to add ears fashioned of heavily interfaced black interlock, lined with I don't know what yet.  Not sure whether to go white or pink for the inner ears.  And the wings... I have some engineering ideas for them but haven't gotten too far yet.  I want to get the basic costume down and then figure out how far I want to go with the wings.  One idea I am tossing around is making them out of black microfleece.  With Kid #2, you need to really consider form vs. function because he has a tendency to wear his Halloween costumes for pajamas and dress-up clothing for a while afterward, so you can't go too engineering-crazy.  At the same time, though, I want it to look good.  Dilemma.

And kid #3... no idea what he'll go as.  Am tempted to make a red microfleece one-piece, add ears and a pointy tail, and call him a devil.  We shall see.

She liiiiiives

And, coincidentally, she knits, too.

Muscari sock #1

The first Muscari sock is coming along, slowly but surely.  I've turned the heel (I'd never before done a short-row heel with YOs rather than wraps!  Quite the learning experience for me...) and am now moving along in pattern for the foot.  I had a brief moment of panic when I realized I'd need to continue the lace pattern without specific instructions, but I overcame it and learned how to read the lace to see what I needed to do next. 

The pattern does tell you which row of the lace pattern you're stopping on, but then you need to do some wrangling of stitches from one needle to another and in the process you divide some of the repeats on either end of the lace section, so when you start up again after turning the heel, you don't have a full repeat at either the beginning or the end.  I thought this was a curious omission, given how very detail-oriented the pattern is otherwise (and I do appreciate that!)  This is my first foray into lace socks, and I have to say I can understand the allure.  They're much more fun (and occasionally more infuriating, but hey, at least you're not bored) than plain stockinette socks.  I'm seriously contemplating keeping these for myself (though they should probably be a holiday gift,) as I've got the perfect pair of Dansko mary janes to show them off.

5-Hour Baby Sweater

I interrupted the sock-knitting a bit to do this little "5-Hour" (ha! maybe if you don't have kids, laundry, dishes, or a life... no really, I'm just bitter I don't knit that quickly, sigh) Baby Sweater from Fiber Gypsy for a colleague of mine who's due with her third child in late September.  I know the photo isn't my best (and in general my photography is pretty poor so that's saying something) but I'm headed back to work tomorrow, so it was either capture it whilst blocking or never get a photo of it.  ;)  Her little work baby shower is on Friday. 

The details are over at Ravelry for both projects, as usual.

Summer is almost halfway over, thank goodness

I'm not a fan of hot weather, especially not the humid variety of hot we get here in the Mid-Atlantic states.  I usually don't do much crafting in the summer, but I guess I'm subconsciously (or maybe consciously) trying to will summer to be over by crafting my little heart out.

Little R's Quilt

Because I don't have enough demands on my time, I thought, why not try my hand at making quilts?  I bought a quilt kit from Jo-Ann Fabrics with an eye to making Little Mr. E a crib quilt, which I managed to finish in an afternoon.  (I'd love to link to the kit I bought, but I can't seem to find it online... suffice it to say they do have them in the stores, they're not terribly expensive, and IMO they're a good option for those of us who are new to quilting and find fabric selection and complicated patterns daunting.  Yes, I've made a suit among other very complex garments in the past.  Yes, I still find new things daunting sometimes.)  As soon as the older kids (and Mr. G) saw the quilt, I was inundated with demands requests for quilts of their own.  This one here is Little R's quilt, done with the same pattern as the kit but different fabrics.  I used a variety of ladybug prints (he's my nature lover, that one) as well as red minkee dot for the border (hate hate hate... so annoying to sew, though so nice in the finished product) and one solid lime green since the Jo-Ann I went to to select the fabric only had four ladybug prints and the pattern requires six fabrics in total.  I also used batting in the middle of this one, which I didn't for Little Mr. E's.  I'm unsure of whether I love the batting or not, but Little R seems happy with it.

Muscari KPPPM

Next in line is Muscari from Knitty's Summer 2008 (what do you call it, a volume? edition?)... well, from the summer 2008 Knitty.  I've had this KPPPM lying around since Mr. G, the older two boys, and I went to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival in 2006, just waiting for the perfect sock pattern to come along.  I think I've found it.  Further bulletins as events warrant.

So I really am knitting

Ezra's feather and fan blanket

After finishing the Stackable Cat, I kind of ran out of oomph.  Mr. G's sweater is still sitting there wanting to be knitted, but it's a sea of stockinette and not especially interesting to knit.  I don't have much time to knit lately, so the time I do spend knitting, I'd like to be somewhat interesting.

...Hence this blanket.  Every baby needs a knitted blanket, right?  And even if my youngest son doesn't actually need a blanket, surely he'll like to have one.  I'm knitting this out of naturallycaron.com Spa, which is a bamboo and synthetic blend.  I'm not sure I'd use it for a garment (but then I am very picky about what I will wear) but for a blanket it seems ideal -- soft, smooth, with good elasticity and nice drape.  The stitch definition is good, too.  I don't think I ever realized how very easy feather-and-fan is... this is just feather-and-fan repeated 10 times across 180 stitches for a stitch pattern width of 18 stitches.  It's easy enough that I have it memorized but not so easy that it's dull (unlike some seas of stockinette we know... ahem.)

Another project finished

Stackable cat

I just finished the Stackable Cat pattern (medium size cat) from Mochimochi Land.  It took me a little under a month to make, though in terms of actual knitting time, I'd say I could have finished it in a day, maybe two since you felt the pieces of the cat prior to sewing them together, so you've got some washing machine and drying time in there.

The cat is knit in many separate pieces, and as mentioned above, the pieces are lightly felted prior to assembling the cat.  I think I'm a somewhat intermediate knitter, and I hate mattress stitch, so I would have preferred the fiddliness of picking up stitches on the body and knitting on the various pieces, but that's just a personal preference and not a complaint with the pattern itself.

This is my first experience with a pattern from Mochimochi Land, though I'm certain I'll be back for more.  I found it very easy not only to understand and follow the pattern, but I found it easy to make my cat turn out similar enough to the ones in the pattern pictures.  That's always a bummer when you put time into something that looks adorable in the pattern picture and then turns out to look nothing like that when you make it.  No worries about that here.