Smithsonian Yarnbomb

(or, "Best Pal Made It Tuesday")

I've had a special request from best pal. We both hope you will share this information widely.

She worked on the yarnbomb of the Smithsonian! How cool is that?

The project was in aid of Japanese performance and installation artist Chuharu Shiota's new installation at the Sackler Gallery. "Haunted by the traces that the human body leaves behind, the work amasses personal memories of lost individuals and past moments through an accumulation of discarded shoes and notes collected by the artist." If you look at the photos here, it will become clear why the yarnbomb is done all in red.

This exhibit will be on view through June 7, 2015. If you are in Washington, DC you should go. And if you can't get there, you can read about the shoes here. But you should go. When was the last time you went to D.C.?

Baby Cocoon

Special K, resting at home, modeling her condom*, sleeve**, cocoon. Sissy sent me this photo, which was good of her because all the pictures I have of me holding the baby while she wore it have her looking rather upset.

My sainted aunt was disappointed with the "Baby R" nickname. I read her message to the Dude. "Sweet Baby Rea," he said, "No, Sugar Rea." So Sugar Rea it is. She was getting there with her bottle feeding--six in a row and then, she fell asleep when daddy was feeding her. But she is very close to coming home.Probably the end of the week. Which gives me a chance to fix the dropped stitches in her sock.***

(******There have been a number of descriptors for this project. I was trying to describe what it would be to someone when I was first starting; I came up with "condom" which was greeted with delight at Sunday dinner. My sister keeps calling it a "sleeve" which to me likens the baby to a tablet or a phone. My admin kept calling it a sock when I showed her this photo. Whatever you call it, it's precious.) (Yes, it's supposed to be a form of swaddling, but Special K doesn't like to feel pinned down. Where have I heard that before?)

Twin Knits

I finished the baby cocoons just in time. Special K has gone home from the NICU. Poor Baby R is there by her lonesome. K had some trouble sleeping; you just know she misses her big sister. But R hasn't made her way through an entire bottle yet, so they just can't let her go home. Mom, Dad, and little sister will be really happy when she joins them. 

This cocoon, which looks really blah without a baby inside, was made following Laurel Love's Cocoon free pattern. One came out better than the other mostly because it took me a while to get used to knitting on four needles again. (The pattern is written for magic loop, but I don't know it and didn't have time to learn. Never fear, I shall!) Anyway, once the babies were here, I somehow found my knitting mojo.

IRL, the yarn is a soft baby pink!

Baby Dresses, Continued

I had my last baby dress knitting class last night. Things haven't been going well, neither for me nor our mother-to-be. I think the latter definitely has had an impact on the former.

We had to cancel the shower because mama was on bedrest and we just couldn't move the shower to her house. Instead, she had a small gathering of family. With cake. My cousin made that. Isn't she amazing?

Since then she's been in and out of the hospital and to-ing and fro-ing with regular and unexpected doctor appointments. (Obstetrician. Pulmonologist! Cardiologist!) She is back in the hospital and won't be leaving again until the babies are on this side of the womb. I'll keep you up to date.


 As you can imagine, I have been very worried. I've made so many flippin' mistakes on these dresses! I've been wearing a path to the knitting shop so the instructor can help me undo what I've done. Last week in class, I was finally motoring along and suddenly, I noticed that the pattern wasn't lining up. I handed it off to the instructor. I had been knitting inside out for like 10 rows. INSIDE OUT! How could I not notice? Seriously, people, a-n-x-i-o-u-s.

Still, I did choose to knit the 12-month size. So I've got that going for me. (That one that looks pink is really coral. And the purple is more orchid.)

Edited: Well, they were born! And now I can tell you that these are my nieces born to my sister this morning, two months early. But they seem pink and in good form at this juncture. Mom and dad happy and well. 

Baby Girl Knits

I mentioned I was taking a knitting class and promised to show you the results of that. We had our second class this week. I'm knitting for twins, so I am doing two dresses at once. This will help prevent "second sock syndrome" I think. I also picked the 12 month old size, and they aren't due til August. To paraphrase, a woman's got to know her limitations!

This is the Marian Dress by Taiga Hillard Designs, and it has faux lace cable panels on the front and back. The pattern is available for purchase on Ravelry, and so yes, I'm there too now. (Which is ridiculous because I can barely keep up with the blog-Twitter-Instagram parts of my life.) (I did recently figure out how to get an instant response from the dude: DM him on Twitter. I'm not sure if it will work when we're in the same room. Or if he will remember that I asked him to bring the dog to the vet if I use Twitter instead of my mouth. I'll experiment and report back.)

Notice the lovely stitch markers I made for this. I had made matching sets purple flowers with purple hearts and turqoise flowers with turquoise spheres but then a wrench was thrown into my plans when I needed a different color in my pairs so I am using the purple flowers with the blue flowers and the hearts with the spheres.

There's been a tragic accident. Yup, after one day of use the bead split. And it wasn't even like I forced the wire into it (like I did with the purple hearts). Lesson learned: don't buy cheap beads.

Life List

The other day our librarian brought Gwen W. Steege's Knitter's Life List to Old Lady Stitching. You know I love a list, so I started flipping through the book. Just to start, I hate that there is not one big list, but rather several lists, spread out over the book which is divided into chapters like "Bags," "Socks," "Home Dec," and "Kid Knits." Couldn't they have put it in an appendix as one list? Eleven lists just seem so messy. But still, lists!

Each chapter starts with a list that is then illuminated in that chapter. So in "Bags," not only should you try to knit a bag from plastic bags and a dressy beaded bag, but you should teach someone else to knit, and pick a knitting travel adventure that takes you to a continent or country you've never visited. There are also designers to "meet" and techniques to learn "look for stitch patterns that don't stretch and use them for bags or bag straps" and "explore each of the five main types of beaded knitting techniques."

The general categories are designers to meet (and I'm not sure if you need to shake their hands or just have a passing knowledge of who they are and what their designs are like), different styles of knitting to try, different projects to try (there are 16 different types of hats, for instance), different techniques to learn, different places to go (including museums, shops, cities, farms, and mills), books to read (how-tos, novels that feature textiles, children's books, nonfiction), and things to discover (ranging from websites to color experiments to history).

It's a great book, and I've already discovered some books I want to read. There's a little section on Mill Girls, and like most people of French Canadian descent from New England, my ancestors worked in the mills. I've read Loom and Spindle (quite a while ago now) but I never heard of Lyddie (YA book) or some of the other books she lists. I've even decided to try cables. I know, I know, not that hard. But for me they've always seemed like the pinnacle of my knitting career (and remember, it's just a sideline for me).

The biggest thing this book inspires in me, though, is to come up with the stitcher's life list. I'm not sure I could come up with 1001 things to do, and I am sure we're not popular enough to get a publisher. Still, I love a list.

What should be on it?

Day 29: Toque pour le Bebe

The baby hat zipped along once I had all the right equipment. Now it just needs to go live with Baby D.

At stitching today, the gauntlet was thrown down. One of the women who has been following my exploits said I needed a grand finale for March 31. I looked at my list, and I have to tell you, I don't have a grand finale. I was hoping to do the sewing machine cover because it is Saturday and I will have time for sewing, but that seems neither grand nor finale.

But what is a grand finale of crafts? Does it involve glitter?

A little help?

Day 19: The Super Unnecessary Scarf

Yesterday, Sissy (seen here) and I flew down to Flo-Rida* to see our parents. I cast on when we got on the plane and bound off when we hit the tarmac in Tampa. This is a seriously quick scarf.  It's the Eleventh Hour Scarf from Purl bee. Knit on size US35 with chunky yarn doubled, you could warm up an entire village of homeless people in a matter of days. I used the Blue Sky alpaca in Jasmine. (So you could warm the homeless but it would be an expensive proposition.) I think Sissy is angling for one in a brighter color. (Though soft, the alpaca sheds like a mother.) Knitting with the giant needles put a little strain on my hands, so remind me I won't be able to make twenty of these in November.

I am also thisclose to a finish on Sisters and Best Friends Button Border Pumpkins. I ran out of cornhusk four stitches shy of completing the border. I guess it will have to wait until we get back to Pennsylvania.



*Ever since the dude and I first heard Flo Rida, we can't pronounce Florida the normal way.

Fresh Eyes

I was looking at suggestions, writing prompts as it were, to help me continue NaBloPoMo. I was intrigued by this one: "Rewrite an old post with fresh eyes and new ideas."

I haven't had a chance to go through some of my meatier old posts, but I thought you'd get a kick out of this. You may remember the poncho I knit for Sissy. I used an incredibly soft alpaca. It took me a million years to knit because for every inch I knit, I took out at least one row.

You'll be pleased to hear that even though the poncho has had its 15 minutes of fame among the fashionable, this one is still being worn.

As a cover-up.

For nakedness.

I'll let you guess who's wearing it.

You can thank me for not posting a photo. Or Sissy can.

Making Things Happen

Manly scarf, free pattern--can't find it.
Lion Brand Vanna's Choice, taupe

Yesterday at quilting class I was bragging about how I make all my Christmas presents (except for the ones I buy at the last minute, right?) and someone asked how many I have finished. Many moons ago I wrote that I had to make something every four days. I'm pretty sure you know how that went. When I got home, I made a list of all my peeps and crossed out the ones that I've completed. Of the 24 names on the list, I've crossed out two. Why did I think I was doing so well?

Not as wonky as it looks.
Pattern from the Village at Chelsea Lane.

(I know why. Even though I am finished with two, I have eight more that I am nearly done. Add in one that I am buying (my cousin-I-never-talk-about gets gift cards because she's down on her luck) and I'm almost halfway done. Next weekend, the dude will be playing in a chess tournament, so I should be able to whip out four or five more. Also, I am a cockeyed optimist.)

I still don't know what I'm making for my dad, but Sew, Mama, Sew is doing their Handmade Holiday round-up again and they've gotten round to men.

Restitched that black lining three times.
Charming.

Biennial Exam

Is all this NaBlowing too much for you? Because my comments are way down. :( I started out writing into the ether, but now I kind of like hearing what you have to say.

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Today, I am fasting for tomorrow the doctor shoves camera equipment up my ass. {I'm asleep so I don't mind.} No matter the utter humiliation involved with this biennial treat, I will not be walking down the path Terri took, but I am going to ask the doctor if he's ever seen such a thing.

On Sunday, I finished knitting the last spa cloth. Of course, by the time I got to that one, I had the pattern memorized and finished it in about 6 hours. I could crank one out for almost everyone I know by Thanksgiving. But alas, I have other presents to make. If I ever knit that pattern again, I'll probably be back at square one with fumble-fingers.

Here are the last two: turquoise* for Maggie and pink for my grandmother who has a toilet like this in her bathroom (and matching sink!)

*It really is turquoise. How come the pink came out looking right, but the turquoise looks different? Color correct that!

New New New

I have, despite Stella's protestations*, been knitting. I am working on a bag I bought the pattern for at the sheep and wool festival I attended in 2007. You may notice in that stash photo that I bought a pattern for flowers to put on the bag. But not *the* pattern for camellias which is pictured on the pattern (and sold separately). I ordered the camellias two days ago because I had no idea I bought the roses pattern in 2007. Sigh. Let this be a lesson. Don't buy things if you're going to wait three years to stitch them. (Hahahahahahaha!)

In fact, here's some stash I recently purchased to put on the back burner.

Mill Hill/Sticks, Ho Ho Santa * Primitive Needle, The Dampy Sod * Just Nan, Owl Winder Pocket (and owl winder) * Just Nan, Tricky Tweets * JABC "Just Fun" Strawberry Pin Cushion Kit (felt)

They've been cluttering up the craft table waiting to be entered into the database. I just entered them, and I saw so many things I want to do! I have mostly been stitching from the WIP pile this year. I've been extra diligent. I've finished four pieces and will likely finish at least six by year's end. I wanna do something new! I think next month I'll do it.

That's settled. Thanks for the love for the magazine review. A couple of people suggested that all the creativity may have been in the Halloween issue and the Christmas preview. I bought the Halloween issue sight unseen. (I needed to order it and pay on that day to get a discount.) I was not nearly as head over heels for that one as many others seem to be. In fact, I only like the monsterbubbles ornie (I sense a theme) and Plum Street's Halloween Greetings. As for the ornament preview, I liked all the ornaments in the preview better than the ones that were submitted for the ornament issue. I still don't love them all--still don't love Erica Michael's finishing--but the Mosey 'N Me, Fresh Threads, and Glory Bee ornaments stand out as being much better. (Maybe the Mosey 'N Me is a photography problem?) Maybe Lelia is right. They all look better stitched and photographed on the blogs. So get to work. You have 75 ornaments to stitch so I can choose which ones I'll do.

*She barks at the knitting. Even after I let her sniff it thoroughly.

"Better Living Through Stitching Together"

Since it's my day to hang with the old lady knitters*, I thought I would give a shout out to the upcoming WORLD WIDE Knit in Public Day, on the second Saturday in June. If I were to knit in public, I would have to go all the way (ha) to Philadelphia. It's being held at Rittenhouse Square where it is impossible to park. Maybe someone will hold one closer to my house. Of course, I could get in the car and drive to Intercourse because who doesn't want to knit in Intercourse. I think the only thing I haven't done in Intercourse is, well, have intercourse. {rimshot} Thank you, I'll be here all week.

*Yes, it's true. I know you thought I had found a group of cross-stitchers at my local library, but most of my old ladies knit or crochet. A couple do other kinds of embroidery, but it's mostly yarn. And believe me when I say, they are the anti-wool snobs (it's all Red Heart and Lion Brand; not that there is anything wrong with that).

Sweater Quest

I know you're expecting to see an interview with Adrienne Martini, my friend the author, here tomorrow, but we've been forced to postpone until March 31. Apparently there is a force field around my house which prevents the book from being delivered. Somewhere in the galaxy an assistant is being fired.

You can read an excerpt of the book, no matter what the status of your force field or how productive your assistants are.

If you are in this area, or can be, for Thursday, April 8, Adrienne will be appearing at my house to sign books and talk about her Year of Knitting Dangerously. I bet she'll bring The Sweater. It's going to be a little dessert party from 7-9 pm. If you're interested in hearing more, have your assistant--the competent one--shoot me an e-mail at annavsxsATgmailDOT she'll know the rest. Space, as they say, is limited.

One Woman's Quest

Hey, remember last summer when all those guest bloggers stopped by to tell you about their favorite projects? Remember Adrienne Martini and her seven-year sweater? She's got a new book coming out. Simon and Schuster is having a big giveaway in honor of Adrienne and her book about knitting the Alice Starmore pattern Mary Tudor (click through because the finished project is A-mAz-ing!). There are 24 copies of the book up for grabs, but the grand prize is a $250 gift certificate to your favorite yarn store.

Stop back here on March 22 because I'll have a brief interview with our friend the author. (Does that make me sound connected or what?)

Quick Knits!

Today I knit this cowl. I cast on this morning and I was done before the football even started--and I took time out to move everything out of the kitchen cabinets (yes! we are getting new counters).

A couple of years ago, my mother bought this superchunky yarn when we were at a yarn shop in Portland, ME. She wanted a sweater (unlikely!) then she said I should knit "whatever." Last year she told me she wanted a cowl. A few weeks ago, I found this very simple cowl for a chunky yarn. I think I might have to block it, but it came out pretty well. And my mother can have it next Saturday. She's coming down early for Thanksgiving. It's good, but kind of bad because I was going to go to the beading store next Sunday to fix a bunch of bracelets my mother asked me to repair. (Definitely the downside of taking all those jewelry making-classes.) Maybe the cowl will distract her...

Knitting Decisions

I had asked for ideas about what to do for my mom with that scrumptious yarn she bought for me to knit. Finally, I asked her what she wanted, and she thought I could make a vest out of it. Um, vest? One skein? I was thinking I could use the color for the front and do the back in black ("Back in Black" now running through head. Must hum "Smoke on the Water.")
A couple of days later she called me. "I saw this cowl thing you can make from the yarn."
"Sort of like a scarf knit as a tube?"
"Yeah, you could make me one of those."
I'll think about it. I might be able to make her something in beading or applique class, and then the yarn can wait until after Christmas and not cause me so much stress.

What Shall I Knit

When I was in Maine, my mother bought me this yarn so I could knit something for her. I want to give it to her for Christmas.

It's Schaefer Yarn "Kathleen." The color is Eleanor Roosevelt (and apparently they think we need edumication about who she is because the romance tag has quite the bio). Well, it pretty much has to be a scarf because there's only 150 yards. It is superbulky weight.

Of course, when I went to Schaefer Yarn, I did see that they have patterns for this yarn, but that scarf just isn't right for my mom. I should have bought the second skein and felted her a bag. Nevertheless...

Any ideas?

(I got a call from the lns: the magazine is in. Of course, I can't get it until Friday at the earliest when I go pick up DD at BWI. I'm debating whether we should go to Winterthur to see quilts or the lns to get the magazine. I shall leave it to my guest.)

New Start?

In preparation for our outing to the Phillies, I thought I would start a project that my coworker and I had planned to knit together. It's a pattern from Sophie's Yarns for a little beaded bag. I think I reported on our excursion a hundred years ago. Anyway, you have to load the beads onto the yarn, 325 of them. So, I got right on that. Well, first I had to find a big eye needle. Then I had to find the yarn. Then I had to find the needle again, and trust me, with the craft room in the state it's in, that was like finding a needle in a haystack.

Over a year later, with thoughts of knitting with the coworker at a baseball game dancing in my head, I reunited the big eye needle, the yarn, and the beads. After I pampered one sick dude, I sat down to Dancing with the Stars (Apolo Ohno is so on my hump island.) and managed to get ONE bead on the yarn. The beads are too small for my bamboo yarn, which is shredding under the effort. Grrrrrrrrrrrr.

Hot Offer

Today, on rather short notice, a coworker asked me to walk the 9 or so blocks to Sophie's Yarns. "Woohoo!" I shouted and strapped on my sneakers. I don't know what I was looking for. Especially since I have not finished the laptop bag.

But it found me! That super crappy picture they have on the website is actually a darling beaded bag, a free pattern no less. They're having a class so my coworker was interested, but I couldn't make it(stamping class scheduled for the same day). I convinced her that we could figure it out together. I know that knitting with beads isn't that hard; I watched an episode about it on that knitting show on DIY. I think it will be good for me to work on this with someone else--I actually might finish. I'm not convinced of that since the knitting is on #3 dpns. I've never knit on anything smaller than a #7.

I bought Classic Elite Yarns Bam Boo in color 4976 (praline, it's the third from the left in the picture above), and pinky-purple matte glass beads. Oooh. I can't wait to start.