greenclogs

socks and skinny jeans

People will tell you that I complain about having cold feet. They tell me to go buy some socks. I reply that I have a lot of sock yarn and I should knit socks not buy them. However, I don't knit socks. I *start* socks. I queue sock patterns. I just never get past turning the heel (not even on the first sock). However, my cold feet finally got to me. 

So I knit a pair of socks. Keep in mind that these are more of a lounge around the house in front of the fire kind of sock as opposed to a sock that would be worn in shoes. I have discovered that I'll knit socks if I use sportweight yarn and I knit cables. That way they knit up quickly and remain interesting. Also, they're super warm and toasty. I guess I'll have to break down and buy socks for wearing inside shoes. Or get over myself and make friends with my size 0 needles. 

I would like you to take a moment to notice that my jeans are tucked into my socks. This is news for a few reasons. 1) I last did this when I was in high school 25+ years ago with ankle zipper jeans, slouchy push down cotton socks, and Reeboks. Classy. 2) I have lost enough weight that skinny jeans can be a part of my wardrobe. This may be a mixed blessing, considering my ambivalence about said skinny jeans at my advanced age. 3) I am buying jeans (and clothes, period) for the first time in about 6 years. This is a good thing. It was pretty sad around here, wardrobe wise. 4) I think that's all that's interesting about my jeans and socks. 

More finished projects are on deck. Now I'm going to drink some Evolution and play Apples to Apples with my peeps. I bet my warm feet will lead me to victory. 

Project details: Pattern: Uncle Frank by Irish Girlie Knits. Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Heavyweight in Rose Quartz (same as my grandma's socks). Size 4 needles. Modifications: knit the men's gauge (used the yarn for the men's size) but decreased by 4 stitches at the ankle for a narrower ankle and foot. Knit one fewer repeat on the foot to make it the right size. Otherwise knit as written.

2012 - starting by finishing (and Christmas recap)

Well, hi. I guess I effectively took December off. It was good - Lindsay was here for over 2 weeks, and we had a lovely time. There was lots of family time, talking, visiting, sight seeing, and Christmasing. 

Lindsay totally hit it out of the park on the Christmas gifting. Check out what she gave me. 

It doesn't get much better than that. Her boyfriend was also here for part of the trip, which we all enjoyed. Especially Kit. She and Brian were pretty tight by the time he left. Also, having a child who can go to the liquor store for you is pretty sweet. 

Okay, onward to 2012. I took a look back at my January 1 2011 post  to see how I did this year. I think I hit about 50%. My resolutions did not take into account the epic move from Scottsdale to Portland and all of the upheaval/stress/chaos that ensued. Nor was I realistic about what I was going to get done with a toddler. So, there's going to be some carryover from last year. I learned to crochet and have nearly finished an afghan. I did make 4 quilts. I finished most things I started, or I am close to doing so. The photography business is slowly taking root. Still on the list are throwing pots, screenprinting, weaving and project365 (366 this year). I'm also making good progress most days on that pesky computer time (see lack of blog posts). 

I'm taking a different approach this year. I've chosen 3 words to live by. 

1. Reach 

2. Simplify

3. Finish

I'll talk about the other two later, but continuing to improve at that pesky finishing thing is super important to me this year. If I have too many undone things, I get lost. I have fewer undone things than last year, but still too many. And on that note, I started the new year by finishing something. 

Start (and finish) small, I say. Santa put a lovely skein of Shelter in my stocking which was the perfect hat to knit for my brother. I cast on yesterday and finished today. The pattern is Fortnight without the short rows. As soon as I wove in the ends, the little one said "it's my hat!", crammed it on her head, and ran off. I guess she needs one too. The hat is now washed and blocking - we'll give it a proper treatment soon. Short version is that I enjoyed both the yarn and the pattern. I'd recommend them. 

Happy new year, friends. I'm glad you're still plugging along with me into 2012. I plan for it to be a pretty stellar year. Full of finishing. 

love and comfort

He asked for convertible mittens for the bike ride to school. I dropped today's planned projects and knit. The fingers were too tight, so I ripped back and will finish tomorrow and his hands will be warm again. I'll knit a pair on Friday for the other bike commuter's hands. The November cold and rain have arrived. 

It wasn't the best day. There was a blowout over perfectionism and giving up instead of perservering, fixing problems, and learning from mistakes. But it ended with chicken noodle soup that she made from scratch and chocolate chip cookie dough made by the boy. The daddy washed dishes so I could comfort a wee one. It smells like love and comfort in here. 

They're all in bed now. I'm headed there too, right after I finish my tea. Hope your day ended with love and comfort too. 

wrapping up the week

I'm so glad it's Friday. We went to Tucson today to see Lindsay for lunch - she drove in from LA to go to the football game. We had a quick, but fun visit and then drove back home. 

Tonight I'm sitting on the couch with my knitting. 

I'm knitting myself a steeked cardigan sweater - this one for those of you on Ravelry. The yarn is Blue Moon Fiber Arts BFL in Mossay - my current favorite yarn. This will be my first steeked cardigan and I'm both nervous and excited. I have a fantasy that I'll be done with this by Thanksgiving but we'll see what life brings over the next couple of weeks. 

Tomorrow I'm finally going to finish a pillow week project. Here are the two hexagon strips - would you do a natural linen background or chocolate brown? I'm torn. I don't love the idea of the brown on my brown leather couch but It would probably wear better. 

We have a busy weekend planned. A breakfast birthday party for a dear friend's 30th birthday (such a young'un!), LOTS of housecleaning, sewing, and a photographer coming on Sunday afternoon (more on that later). I think I'll throw swiffers on the baby's knees and hope for the best. 

Happy weekend!

there's still knitting around these parts

See? 

Since we cloth diaper, baby leggings don't fit so well over the round booty. An easy solution for us is baby legwarmers. These, and their matching hat are knit from Three Irish Girls BFL in the Kate colorway. I plan to also knit a pair of longies out of the 1.5 skeins that I have left and keep the legs nice and snug like this. Neither the hat or the legwarmers are from a pattern - I just winged it and luckily they worked out. The size of the legwarmers increases once they're over the knee to account for the thunder thighs. She seems to like them. She's not trying to pull them off like she is the hat. I have yet to find socks that will stay on her feet, but I can pull these down over them and keep them warm if needed. Not that it's necessary around here yet, seeing that we're down to a balmy 85 degrees now. Yes, we pull out the wool when it dips below 90. Don't judge. We don't laugh at you when you wear shorts when it goes over 70. 

Besides, wool and pumpkins are natural companions. 

As are these girls. There's a lot of love there and it warms my heart. Seven months of sisterhood and they are thick as thieves. 

Back to the knitting! Only 8 more weeks until Christmas. 

felting, part one

Apparently this is the Christmas of felting. Probably because I'd rather be sitting on the couch with my feet up and knitting than bending over a cutting table (which reminds me that I still need to raise it). 

Since my fingers need to be busy with needles rather than a keyboard, I'll just show you some of what's been on the needles. 

For the record, none of these are for Jeff, much as I would love to do that to him. I have only made elf slippers for children. They still need a non-skid surface on the bottom to prevent slipping everywhere. Pattern from here. Fun to knit and fun to wear. 

at the ready

I think the reason I've been a reasonably productive knitter lately is that I'm keeping yarn and needles at the ready next to "my" spot on the couch. When I sit down, I can grab whatever project is in progress (tonight it's a toddler size hat out of the red and blue) and knit while I chat with the kids or watch a TV show or have my computer open on the arm of the couch. If I have to search for the yarn or the needles, then my progress slows dramatically. So, I'm trying to stick to one needle size with similar yarns to minimize the digging. A better solution would be to clean out the craft room (ahem) but I need to devote a whole day to that. Maybe after the Malabrigo runs out and I have to look for something new. 

The planning has begun for Thanksgiving dinner. I think it's just our family of five this year, so I'm trying to balance having all those traditional dishes that we love with not overdoing the cooking (and tiring of the leftovers). On the menu is a Hassayampa ham, since someone (the boy) has sworn off poultry. Something about those girls of ours in the back yard. We'll also have both sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes (for Lindsay), brussels sprouts, green beans, rolls, and dressing with ham gravy. Dessert is a sweet potato pie. We'll also poach some beautiful pears from the farmer's market. I think that'll be enough to feed us all weekend. I need to get to baking the rolls tomorrow and the pie filling and crust, so Thursday's work is minimal. 

Happy Thanksgiving week, friends. We have much to be thankful for. 

continuing the parade of hats

With all the hat making going on, someone wouldn't be left out of the fun. After all, he is the hat kid. He chose bright bright bright yellow for his hat. Same hat recipe as the last ones. 

Luckily for me, Annika wants mittens. So I'm moving on briefly until she asks for the hat to match. 

Expect 2 posts today, since I mistakenly saved this to draft last night during Project Runway. With as boring as it was, I'm surprised I was that distracted!

Until this evening, then. Have a great day!

fraternal hats

Our sweet buddies turned 10 today, so we thought that they needed some coordinating hats for our newly chilly mornings and evenings. The hats are made of Malabrigo worsted and are my go-to hat recipe, with some stripes for interest. Those smiles made the weekend of knitting all worthwhile. 

Now I'm casting on yet another hat (yellow this time) for Gunnar and then some mitts for Annika. Hope you're not tired of the knitting yet. Looks like there's plenty more coming down the pike. 

a gift for baby Chloe

I've been waiting to share this one for a while. My friend Jade had her third child, little Chloe, at the end of September. Courtney and I got several of our blog friends together to send her a baby shower in a box. After several delays due to recovery or illnesses, she opened the box yesterday, so I now I can share what I made. 

I've shared the hat before, since I made a matching one for our upcoming little one. the sweater is the Debbie Bliss Ribbed Baby Sweater, which is a really fun little knit. It's knit all in one piece, and then stitches are picked up around the fronts and collar for the ribbing. I used Blue Sky Alpaca Dyed Cotton yarn. It was from the stash, and had been wound and partially knit in an abandoned project, so I don't know precise yardage. I'd guess that I used slightly less than 2 skeins. Hopefully it'll get some good wear in the cool Austin fall and winter. 

Welcome to the world little Chloe! We're so glad you're here.