as cozy as spring

I'm going to Gymboree

Gather 'round knitters to laugh at me.  I wanted to knit a vest for my little boy.  He likes to dress well for Mass and I thought a vest would be a nice addition to his wardrobe.  I couldn't find a pattern, so I improvised.  I did it properly with graph paper, percentages, lots of numbers and measuring.  I feel sure the pattern was perfect.  I chose yarn and knit a gauge swatch for the first time ever.  And then... I looked at the gauge swatch and thought, "Yeah, that looks about right."  Meaning I never did actually measure the swatch.  I had formulated the pattern based on a gauge of 5 stitches per inch.  I knit on the vest for a good long while and noticed it looked a little small.  I went back and (what a crazy idea) measured the swatch.  6 stitches per inch.  Meaning what should have been a 30 inch circumference was now in the neighborhood of 24 inches.  

It is to be made into a pillow now because I just can't frog it and start over.  My husband wisely pointed out he will most likely get more use out of it as a pillow.  He's probably right, but I'm still annoyed.

*I borrowed the Norwegian Star chart from this adorable little hat pattern.  I may be able to console myself by knitting the hat properly.  

Toasty

I knit this pattern for my mother for Christmas last year.  It's one of the simplest knitting patterns out there and so practical and stylish.  This most recent project is knit in Sunshine Yarns Classic in Vanilla Latte, one of my most favorite colors ever.  Instead of casting on 34 or whatever it specifies in the pattern, I cast on 54 on US 1.5 dpns, dusted off the concept of percentages and adjusted the thumb portion accordingly.  I think this makes a great Christmas gift.  Even in fingering weight, it was a very fast knit.  It's also a great way to use up some of that sock yarn you just had to have even though seriously, you don't knit socks that quickly and the ratio of sock yarn purchased to socks produced is something you'd rather not think about.

As I fill in the calendar for November and December I see far too many days will be spent behind the wheel and I think glancing at these whilst driving down the road will make that time far more pleasant.

Colonial Crafts: An Autumn Dye Pot

My daughter was flipping through Colonial Days last week.  I told her to pick out a craft and she mentioned making a natural wool dye.  I was all over it.  I've wanted to try dyeing again for a while now, but couldn't justify the expense for my own recreation... but as an educational opportunity for my children?  That's a whole different (more generous) category in the budget.

We ordered some undyed merino (lace weight) and picked up some alum and cream of tartar at Target.  We decided to create a goldenrod dye because it's supposed to be easy and the roadsides are still adorned with the feathery bright yellow flowers.  And I love doing anything so quintessentially seasonal.

Can you imagine us all happily tromping through a sunlit field to gather flowers?  Picture this instead, it's just after Mass and I'm wearing my pearls, strappy heels, and a knee length dress which became decidedly not knee length when I leaned over to gather the goldenrod.  Replace the sunlit field with a bare spot behind a local bar complete with broken beer bottles and ant piles - also a cold front had blown in whilst we were in church and it was damp and chilly.

 

I would provide more details for the dyeing process, but it wasn't exact and there are plenty of ideas out there on the internet.  I personally remember green spiders crawling all over my kitchen counters, shrieks and laughter over the wasps and caterpillars we brought home with us, hauling huge pots of boiling water in and out of the kitchen, and a smell filling the house which can only be described as "funky".

 

But we got a golden skein of yarn for all of our efforts and it goes without saying that we will definitely do this again.

Ooh, I should mention that Martha does this in Lissa's Martha series using a rather repulsive substance as mordant and I was surprised and also not surprised that there are still a lot of people out there who take this route - but you know, for some additional reading on natural dyes.  

That is not my button!

The whole world is covered with buttons and not one of them is mine!

-Toad

My children love that story because I tend to read Toad dramatically.  I understand Toad more than I understand Frog and I think that says more about me than anything else I've written here.

Anyway!  Last night I literally dreamed of buttons.  I've had this little baby cardigan knit for days now and bought several buttons, none of which are just right.  Some have two holes instead of four, some are thin instead of thick... 

Pattern: Playful Stripes Cardigan (minus the stripes, though I actually loved the stripes and they are why I bought the pattern)

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cotton Cashmere (discontinued and it's no great loss)

Needles: US size 3 & 4

I think this cardigan would be far cuter modeled on a newborn baby girl.  It just so happens one should be arriving in early December - my little brother's second daughter.  I'm becoming a little dangerous around newborns, wanting to steal them and all, you understand I'm sure.

OK then, I'm off to search the house.  Perhaps I'll find that my button was here all the time.

Hand knit for a baby boy...

Can you spot what is wrong with this little baby vest?  It was knit as a gift and I love it because it's tiny and classic, knit in an organic cotton/wool blend.  Isn't it sweet?  The yarn is from the same dye lot, but one of the skeins sat in a glass canister in my window for a year.  So there's a slight difference in color.  I don't know what to do with it now.  I've tried setting the bottom half in the sun but that didn't work.  If you want it, let me know in the comments and I will send it your way.  I would put it on my own son (the difference in color isn't that noticeable IRL) but it was made to fit a baby - I would guesstimate about 6 months old or maybe more.  The shoulder to waist measures 10.5 inches and the chest circumference is about 22 inches.  

ETA: It's going to Melanie and baby Ben - yay!

Autumn Ensemble

Our summery skirts and tops were so out of place at Mass this weekend and my poor daughter shivered all morning.  I spent Monday pinning and sewing and stitching and snipping.

Dress: Butterick 4842.  I like this pattern but it's quite wide.  Even making it in size 5 for my nine year old I had to take it in on the sides several times.  My father, the woodworker, always tells me to measure twice and cut once but this is advice I've never applied to sewing because I apparently like being frustrated and wasting time.  

Cardigan: Little Cable and Cable Cardigan. This is such a sweet cardigan. The only modification I made was to knit the bobbles a little smaller. I knit it with the recommended Sublime Organic Cotton DK.  The yarn felt so soft and delicate.  I didn't think it would hold up to frogging, but one sleeve was ripped out twice with no problems.  I would use this yarn again.  The colors are so subtle and lovely.  

The dress is still a bit too big and the cardigan is a teensy bit snug, but I added them together and my daughter and I are completely smitten with this new fall outfit.

In the living room

We're enjoying the win column and I'm knitting.  I was on blog break when I finished up a little cardigan this summer, but it really needs to be mentioned because I love this pattern!  It's Chloe from Alana Dakos.  There are so many reasons why this is a great pattern:

1. The construction is super simple and seamless, yay!
2. It's a great stylish fit for little girls
3. It's sized from newborn to 12 years old - so I can knit a few for my daughter and plan on giving some as gifts as well.
4. It's a quick knit.  I lengthened the torso several inches and used a dk weight yarn (the pattern is written for worsted) and it still only took a week.
5. It's so functional.  I was eager to use up some dk weight cotton and adapted the pattern for a more casual look (using every color in my stash).  My daughter layered it while we were camping.  And she wears it as a cover up for ballet as well.  And she sleeps in it (she really likes it too).  But I am going to knit a dressier version with the bottom ruffle for her to wear to Mass - because 1) It would be lovely paired with a sleeveless dress and 2) Our churches are always ridiculously cold in the summer - this is a bit more appropriate than a blanket.

Anyway, the pattern is well written and I'm so glad I have it in my pattern folder because I'm going to get a lot of use out of it.  

I didn't get many good photos - my daughter is ever so tired of modeling.  

I'm being called away from the computer for cuddles, no proofreading today!

Big! Exciting! Yarn! Post!

A few weeks ago, the delightful Dani of Sunshine Yarns asked us (on Ravelry) to submit photos of our very favorite summer places or activities.  So I submitted the following:

The fairy tale mushrooms that grow alongside the mountain trails in northern New Mexico.  So Dani, who is an amazing artist, took my photo and turned it into YARN.  

Did you get that?  YARN!  A forest mushroom YARN inspired by my favorite vacation memories and photos!

She so perfectly captured the feel of the chilly forests there.  The bright green of the moss and ferns, the deep green of the fir trees and the happy red of these hidden little mushrooms.  

From the Sunshine Yarns website:

Inspiration: Jennifer inspired us with her hiking pictures from northern New Mexico. Her pictures are full of beautiful, rich forest colors, pops of purple flowers and these incredible fly agaric mushrooms she finds along the trail.

Colors: Red, white, evergreen, herby grass green and stone

There's still 3 over there if you want to buy some 'me' yarn. :)

ETA: And 'Mushroom' is all sold out now.  Yay!  This was so much fun.  

I spilled Butterbeer on my feet.

It's July in Texas.  Everyday the high temperature is about a million.  It's miserable.  But I am so enjoying knitting right now.  My hands are cooperating for the most part.  My husband tolerates it because "It keeps you out of my hair."  Nice, but last night when I had nothing on the needles he was berated with "What if we don't have any more children and do you think I'm fat?" all within one minute, so I see his point.  

Anyway!  I'm still quite busy with the Ravelry knit-alongs.  This month was a Harry Potter themed KAL to celebrate the new movie.  

Project #1

Pattern: Yarn Over Cable Socks from Sensational Knitted Socks

Yarn: Merino Sport in "Butterbeer"

Needles: US 2

Y'all, it's probably wrong to love a pair of socks this much, but they are so super squishy and cozy.  I love the pattern and the yarn.  I love knitting socks on tiny little bamboo needles.  I love the math, the heel, the toe, the everything.  I've seriously struggled with this because it is such a luxury to work with beautiful yarn for something that is not at all necessary.  But I do have an extraordinary amount of nervous energy and this seems to help.  File under "mental health"!  Goodness, this yarn was wonderful to work with.  The colors were so subtle and lovely and just exactly what butterbeer would look like.  The sport weight knit up in just over a week, considerably quicker than my 5 week average for a pair.

Now to the quilt along!  It's my month to send out fabric and inspiration and I running a wee bit behind. *And I feel obligated to mention that it is my son's birthday, but we're not talking about that because I only just stopped sobbing "Please, stop growing!  Please?!?"  And now I must go squeeze him. 

I have a sick tummy.

Look what my mom brought me back from England!  Oh, I love these little shortcakes.  They may or may not have already been consumed entirely.  I am very, very happy that I can't read British nutritional charts.  

Here's a finished hat as way of filling up this post a bit. 

Pattern: Hermione Cable Eyelet Hat

Yarn: Tahki Cotton Classics, unknown color

Needles - US 5 circulars and dpns

Commentary: I shortened the ribbing by 6 rows, but I could've cut it more.  It's a bit long.  I cast on 110 stitches and it fits Lucy fine.  It fits me fine as well.  I don't love the yarn/pattern combination.  I think it would be prettier in a something with subtle color variations, but my daughter likes it so that's all that matters.