like magic

baby surprise jacket, originally uploaded by alicethelma.

It takes a lot of faith to make a baby surprise jacket (hereafter know as the bsj). Even though I have made one before, it’s still hard to be sure that you’re doing the right thing. You follow the instructions as closely as you can bearing in mind that they’re written in an offbeat conversational way. You knit away and knit away and end up with an oddly shaped piece of knitted fabric. I’ve heard it described as a manta ray. But then you fold it up like origami and voila! Like magic, you have an adorable little baby jacket. 

The only sewing up required are the shoulder seams. oh yeah, and the buttons (read previous post). But seeing as how the baby has already been born, I want to be sure he gets this before he graduates from high school.


The details, such as the pretty little border produced with a bind off in purl, are lovely.


And the best part on this particular jacket was the price. The cost of materials, including buttons – less than $5.

I guess I’m too practical to put an infant in expensive fiber only to have him (or her) spit up all over it. I suppose that’s the German in me.

Speaking of Germany, I'm sending a couple of felted...er...knitted gifts along with Alice who is leaving on the 18th. I'll post a pic soon.

why is it so hard to finish?

button flange pillow, originally uploaded by alicethelma.

I finished knitting this pillow over a year ago, amending the pattern and extending it to fit a square 16” pillow (because I could not find a 12” by 16” pillow anywhere). So in changing the pattern, I increased the amount of buttons needed to 6 on each side. For some inexplicable reason, I could not bring myself to sew those damn buttons on. And they’re so pretty, aren’t they.

Well I took the whole project including enough yarn to make a second pillow to my mother last year thinking (wrongly) that it would make a nice project for her. Needless to say, she did not sew the buttons on.

This year, I brought it back from California with me and in an extreme effort to actually finish a few projects, I finally sewed those damn [pretty] buttons on there. It makes a very decorative yet rather loose pillow. I make look for the next larger size pillow form.

it's august and I have a bad case of startitis

union square shawl/poncho, originally uploaded by alicethelma.

I have been eyeing this poncho pattern for a long time and at the same time I’ve needed a good mindless knitting project. Something that I can have in my hands when I’m watching TV or waiting in line and that will take a good long time to complete. Something that I can pick up a year from now or tomorrow, as the need arises. Well this poncho requires 54 inches – almost 5 feet – of knitted fabric so it’s a great long-term project for me. Oh and don’t worry about the cost. I have resolved to buy the yarn one 40% coupon at a time (dye lot be hanged). It’s Paton’s Classic Wool Merino wool in dark grey mix and it’s dreamy. The pattern comes from Melanie Falick’s Weekend Knitting.

My august case of startitis doesn’t end with this project. I think…I’m going…to start…a…sweater! Soon.

sock fashion show

In no particular order, I give you...

alice in wonderland, originally uploaded by alicethelma.

...my first pair of kneesocks which is getting lots of hits on flickr. I was even invited to join the beautiful socks group. What an honor!

Alice did get a little bit of pitch on the socks but we had a lot of fun. At the same session, I modeled the waving lace socks and while I'm not crazy about my feet, I have come to accept them.

I think I was the only person down at the pool wearing socks but I got to show them off right?

Earlier this month, I finished the self-titled river rock socks which are based on the pattern spring forward.

Unfortunately, the pattern can't be distinguished too clearly from the colors of the yarn, but I plan on remaking this pattern in a solid (in fact I already am). It looks complex but it's actually fairly easy. And don't get me wrong. This is a great merino wool and I would use it again in a heartbeat.

And way back in June, I started, and finished the lovely embossed leaves socks. 

A joy to knit, they took me about a week start to finish.

The yarn, called "Jitterbug" from Colinette is sublime. I think merino wool is my favorite and this particular merino was so soft and spongy in a lovely and irregularly dyed shade of pink that it just made the entire knitting experience simply fabulous.

We're off to Last Thursday. Ciao!

one more for the road

grizzly spring forward socks, originally uploaded by alicethelma.

Yep. I started another pair of socks the other day. These are the pattern called spring forward and the same pattern I used for the river rock socks. The yarn is Essential in Inca Gold Tweed from the stash.

Well I have to admit that I'm getting pretty close to tapped out on socks although I did take time out today to go kayaking on Timothy Lake. I do promise a fashion show of all the completed socks of summer before July is finished. Oh yeah and here is a photo of the finished green leaf sock that I mentioned the other day.

When I finished the sock at knitting nite, Adrienne asked "What's that? A kid's sock?" In my zeal to conserve yarn, I did go a little overboard. Thinking it would fit Alice, it turned out child sized - maybe big enough to fit a five year old. I'm going to finish them anyway. And maybe, just maybe, make another pair for Alice. The embossed leaves pattern is so much fun. tee hee.

fickle

waving lace socks, originally uploaded by alicethelma.

yes I know. I'm addicted and I simply couldn't resist casting on another pair of socks. This sock is coming along rapidly and even tho' it's not a yarn I'm particularly fond of, the pattern is a lot of fun. The sock in the photo represents one day's progress.

(Note: the undulating rib sock has been scrapped and is now history.)

I'll show you what happened to the green leaf socks as soon as I can get the color right. I'm taking more care in matching the colors, or maybe just being more anal about it.

Still not sick of socks

green leaf socks, originally uploaded by alicethelma.

There are a few reasons that I'm stuck on socks these days. Beautiful patterns for one such as the lovely (and easy) embossed leaves from the book Favorite Socks pictured above.

Secondly, socks are small and in this hot weather that makes a big difference. When it's 90 degrees, you don't want a thick wool blanket or sweater on your lap (although I'm srsly jonesing to make a sweater soon).

Finally, there's the economics. Being on a budget these days, I'm trying not to spend any money on yarn. And even if I am tempted, socks are a smaller investement than say, a sweater. So far I've been using a lot of sock yarn from my stash, starting and stopping different socks and always hoping (and praying) that I have enough.

See if I don't come away with some yarn tonight.

the sock days of summer

socks of summer, originally uploaded by alicethelma.

Yesterday I finished the knee socks for Alice (center) and that makes three pair in one month and seven pair for the year so far. I'm right on schedule! Not bad. Socks really do make fun (and addicting) knitting projects for summer.

Not one to bask in the glory for long, I quickly cast on for the undulating rib sock but I'm not so sure about this pattern...I can't decide if I like it or not. Luckily I used yarn from my stash which will eventually become socks for a deserving sister in one form or another.

Well that was yesterday. Today I went berry picking.

the bradster

silly bradley, originally uploaded by alicethelma.

Celebrate goodtimes...c'mon.

Fourth of July Dinner, originally uploaded by alicethelma.

You may recognize my sister's table from Thanksgiving. It's a place of big family gatherings and yesterday we surrounded the table again for an Independence Day barbeque dinner. Today we celebrated my parent's 50th wedding anniversary and tomorrow Alice and I are heading back to Washington. Our two weeks in California are up. We'll enjoy the rest of the summer in the PNW.