Ten Days to Go

I loathe Christmas and everything about it, except the food, the booze, and the time off work. The visiting with friends and family is kind of cool, too. And the music is all right. If it's good (meaning, written prior to about, oh, 1950 and not performed by anyone that was born after me. Generally speaking).

In short, I hate the commercialism, the need to give great, grand gifts to everyone, as if some stupid snow village encased in a globe tells my veterinary assistant how much I care. Or that a hokey tree ornament was thoughtfully chosen for me by my bartender(s), when every one else shining the bar with their sleeves that night got one as well.

Cynical much? Not me.

Thankfully, my parents and siblings opted out of this nonsense years ago, and I've managed to convince my girly pals that I'd rather spend time with them instead of shopping for stuff. It's a huge relief.

But, now there are the small people. And, small people love Christmas. I do hate disappointing them, when they are so easily pleased and are so generous with their smiles and hugs. There's something about the phrase, "Auntie Misstea, I love you" that makes me want to make sure that the universe farts rainbows just for them.

So, I sucked it up last night, and went to a book shop. You'd think that 11 days before Christmas, it would be a gong show, but apparently not at 5:30 on a Tuesday. Good planning on my part, for a change. And, I must admit, the 40 minutes I spent playing around in the children's section was rather fun. There's some cool stuff out there. From now on, I will be the Auntie that gives books and knitted things.

So, with that in mind, I got home from work tonight and spread out all the unallocated knitted things on the sofa:

I need eight kid-sized somethings. I have them. Problem is, I have no idea if the sock to foot size is at all reasonable. I'll ask LSG (because LSG knows everything) and then, it might be a little insane around here. I can't believe I'm doing this.

My heart is still two sizes too small, just for the record. And Santa is creepy. He breaks into your house, FFS.

Stalled

right before the finish line.

This is Jr. J's sweater, supposedly for his first Christmas. Like he cares. If I don't get it finished soon, he won't fit into it (I made the 6-9 month size, and he's barely three months old!).

All the knitting is done. I blocked it on New Year's Eve. So, why haven't I sewn the damn thing up? Well, because I've never actually grafted ribbing before. Damn, I'll have to practise what I preach, and work on the swatches that I make everyone else work on when I teach.

Wish me luck.

Kinda busy right now

Playing with this:

And excavating the basement to find my Office disc, because Outlook Express doesn't talk to it, but Outlook does.

"Krismas? Vhat is dis Krismas t'ing you talk bout? I no not'ing. Is silly."

(with apologies to S, from long ago, who mocked her in-laws from Slovenia).

If there was any doubt

that I am certifiably insane, let it be removed right now.

I am, in the next nineteen (19! Bloody hell!) days going to knit a toddler sweater out of fingering-weight yarn. I cast on yesterday.

In retrospect, I shouldn't have spent those few days dicking around with Koohaas and getting back to my beloved sock-knitting. Oops.

Naturally, I'm not really following a pattern. I have a picture in my head, and I found a pattern that has the basic shape and finished measurements that I want, so I've calculated the new stitch count, cast on and am very much hoping for the best.

Here's what I've got so far:

Craptastic photo.

I searched for a heavier yarn in the appropriate colours, but nothing seemed to be available in the local shops I patronize, when I remembered to look (and I've known about this for, oh, about eight months now) and it's too damn late to order anything.


I procrastinated, because there was tons of time. Five skeins is about five socks, and I can whip that off in a couple of weeks, no problem (since I can do half a sock in an evening, just sitting at the pub). My gross miscalculation comes from forgetting that what I want to make is just a picture in my head. I foresee lots of ripping. And what gets ripped must be re-knit.

Let's not forget about the intarsia beast. I haven't knit intarsia since, oh, I think about 1998, when my ex-husband's nephew was born. Holy crap, that kid is about nine now. And if that is any measure of how time flies, I'd better get to it...


Oh, and I start a course next Monday. I guess I will really be putting my knitting-and-reading skills to the test. I wonder how my employer feels about knitting and "working."

I love being at home when the mail comes

Home again sick today. Jeez, I'm getting tired of this.

I'm sure my employer is too, as this is the sixth sick day in three months. That's more than a bit embarrassing.

Anyway, since I was home, and not sleeping, I answered the door. There was a package for me! From The Sweet Sheep. And this was in it:

Mama E project bag, you know, for those dressier occasions where a Ziploc baggie just won't do.

Rabbitworks Fibre Studio (also found here) Toe Jam sock yarn, Fiesta colourway.

Handmaiden Sea Silk in Amethyst. (Hmm, do I see a Montego Bay scarf for me in my future?)

None of this was bought for any reason in particular, except that one day at work, I got a little click-happy. The package arrived rilly fast, so I guess buying from a Canadian supplier does make a difference.

Sitting here, browsing through Ravelry, allowed me to finish the front of Mini J's Christmas sweater:

Let me show you a closer picture of the flower:

Isn't it cute? I am still amazed, after all these years, that knits and purls can be combined to come up with an infinite number of things.

Now comes the tough part: picking up the stitches for the neck and then finishing the damn thing.

This is where I usually lose interest and wander off to do something else. I'm trying hard not to, though, because if I keep going, I could have this thing done tomorrow, including blocking. That would be a sweater in a week (granted, a kid's sweater) and that's an achievement.

Sick day

I have a horrendous cold, and in the interest of not infecting the entire office, I'm knitting from home today.

Trust me, I'm doing everyone a favour.

I just cast off the second sleeve of my darling Mini J's sweater. I still have my doubts about what appears to be the insane width, but I'm told the ease for kid's clothing is built into the arms and shoulders.

Okey dokey. I'll continue to reserve judgement.

I am also somewhat reassured by the fact that I've knit the back and two sleeves since Saturday afternoon. If I have to re-jig things, there's plenty of time.

However, after nearly a week of lavender yarn (including the false-start), I'm itching to do something else, even though I know it's in my best interest to keep going with this thing.

Anyway, pictures!

Two sleeves

Sleeve detail (colour is wonky)

Sweater back

Bottom edging. It's quite pretty, and not difficult, if I remember to count. However, it's an eight row pattern, and I did not commit it to memory, somehow. My brain must be full.

And speaking of Mini J, I saw my dad for a few minutes last night. He tells me that she is quite helpful around the house. If the phone rings, she'll go get it and bring the phone to whoever is around to answer it. How cute! Can't wait to see her in a few weeks.

This isn't as quick as I thought it would be

So, I'm chugging along merrily on the back of Mini J's sweater. I'm thinking about dinner, and how badly I do NOT want to shovel, and whether the cat pee smell in this place is just in my head (I'm pretty sure it's not).

I'm on row 29 of 33, and I decide that it's time to turn the page, thinking that I have a few shoulder shaping rows, and then the back is done.

Apparently not.

The pattern says: Continue in reverse st. st., cast off 3 stitches at beg of next 2 rows.

Work 30 rows more in reverse st. st.

Shape back neck and shoulders....

Well, I'd better get to that shovelling now, or it's not going to happen tonight. Regrettably, my toes haven't thawed from standing at the bus stop.

Well!

Once I start shopping, I can't stop.


I needed to get yarn for Mini B's sweater. The shades of brown, pink and cream stocked in my desired yarn didn't work together. So, instead, I bought this:


I have no idea what I'll do with it. I've got a whole month, right?



I also purchased this lavender yarn:



This is a lighter weight than what I'm using for Mini J's sweater. I'm going to try this and see if I can get a nicer drape, and maybe a sleeve that resembles an actual toddler's arm.


And since it was 10% off anything I bought, I also bought myself a little treat. Been wanting a shawl pin from Romi for ages, and since Icarus is accompanying me to the company Christmas party tonight, I thought I needed something to hold it on me.



The reason for a little bit of retail therapy? (Not that I ever need one.) I got stood up for lunch today. Quite frankly, I wasn't surprised, and now I'm very glad I decided to go to the party solo.

The hot and sour soup was lovely, anyway, so it wasn't a waste.

Why yes, I am chatty today.

So, this is what almost a whole sleeve looks like:

I understand the concerns. It's freaking huge (and btw, even though I'm using different yarn, I did get gauge). This is also a whole ball of yarn, less the swatch.


Mini J's arm, at its biggest, is about four inches in circumference (which is about the inside circumference of my thumb and index finger. This sleeve, near the top, is about ten (my palm is three inches wide, for a sense of scale). That's a whole lotta ease. More than a toddler needs.

Cast-on edge, trying to look like a sleeve.

(and that is not a trashy magazine underneath my darling perfect niece's sleeve - it's the program for my show. Don't you wish you'd gone to see it?)

I'm going to throw this on waste yarn, cast on for the back and see what happens. If it's nasty, there is going to be some serious algebra and geometry going on.


That's OK, 'cuz I'm a math-type person.


But, I did nearly a whole sleeve in about three hours. That's encouraging, right?

Full steam ahead

I have settled on patterns for the baby sweaters.

Thank goodness, because I was getting really tired of thinking about it.

For Mini B, I am making the Little Star Sweater (shown on the cover) from this book. Imagine though, a "B" instead of the star, and using brown, pink and cream. I think it will work. I am not looking forward to the intarsia, but I love this kid, so I'll suck it up and do it (not my idea - her mother's request).

For Mini J, another pattern from the same book (I cannot find a photo) called "Lacy Sweater" (creative names, no?). It's a reverse stockinette tunic with some lacy details on the sleeves, neckline and hem, as well as a textured flower on the the front. I think the lavender yarn I purchased will suit well. Once I made up my mind, I was desperate to cast on, but perhaps it's just as well I left the yarn at home. There's little enough work going on in this place today (see? blogging? not real work).

Now, I did some digging around, and the reviews on this book are decidedly mixed (I only bought because I saw it on a bargain table for $4.99). There appears to be problems with the sizing, and there is no errata page to be found anywhere.

I figure since I'm substituting yarns anyway, I'll just have to be super-diligent.

Let the Christmas madness begin!

Quick post

For lack of a better title. It's bedtime. Making a meal and doing one (1!) load of laundry plays me out.

That's pretty sad.

I did manage to finally wash the swatches, but I'm too lazy to take a picture.

I neglected to take measurements, but there is definitely vertical shrinkage. Horizontal, a little, but not much.

All of the fabrics bloomed and are much softer to the touch. Even the lilac, which I thought was unbearably stiff, is now tolerable. The blue is lovely, and I will be using that yarn again. For sure.

Perhaps tomorrow at work, I will run some calcs and maybe even settle on a pattern.

I will do this at work because the huge time investment I made over the past six weeks has paid off. What took me three weeks in October just took me a day and a half.

I'm pretty chuffed about that. Made all the cursing under my breath worthwhile. Now I'm going to make it a little game - to see how fast I can get it done.

Swatchy, swatchy

Once again, my efforts to avoid housework amaze even myself. I present to you... three swatches, which represents this evening's work (one per hour of TV I watched).




First is ONline Tessa, in some shade of lavender or lilac. The stockingette portion is 20 stitches, beginning at the bottom with 4.0 mm, then proceeding to 4.5 mm and 5.0 mm needles. The yarn rather reminds me of acrylic, except that it doesn't squeak when I knit it.




The fabric made from the 5.0 mm needle appears to have the best drape. The 4.0 mm is definitely too dense. Overall, the fabric is stiff.


Second is Luxury Fine Merino in blue. Same needle sequence. Stockingette portion is 24 stitches. Fabric is much softer, and the 4.0 mm section is lovely. Much prefer this to the ONline.



Third is Lanett in brown, or chocolate, I suppose. 24 stockingette stitches, 3.5 mm needles (my smallest Option size).

Fabric is nice, not as airy as I thought it would be. This might actually work. I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly it knit up. I daren't go to a larger needle size. The fabric would be too "airy." Somehow, I know this without even trying it.

Next: measurements, before and after throwing these in with the next load of laundry.

Exciting times at Chez Peepee. Can you tell I'm in my post-show funk?

Yarn for my babies

And some, for the road.

Maybe, I don't know. It's a song in my head.

Mini B picked this out in September:
It's exactly the colours her mother wants, but suggested needle size is 2.5mm. That's sock yarn, basically. I don't think it's going to happen before Christmas.

At knit night, tonight, I picked out this: It's a superwash merino, and soft enough that I want to replace my pillows and use it, instead. Loving the colours, but not really what I had in mind for Mini J.

This colour is what I had in mind for Mini J (it's more lilac than pink). Also a superwash, but not nearly as soft.

Suggestions? Comments?

Two toddlers, two sweaters, 41 days. I can do it, right? (After all, I did it last year).

I hereby solemnly swear

that I will finish these sweaters very, very soon.

I have one work appropriate sweater, and I've been wearing it while gardening. Not fit for the office right now. So, today, I shivered at my desk wearing Icarus across my shoulders and another wrap over my legs like a blanket. I had goosebumps everywhere all day. Not at all work-appropriate in a thin white t-shirt.

Details:

Blue sweater is this cabled hoodie (cover pattern). The yarn is Briggs and Little, grown and spun in New Brunswick and purchased in Halifax. I do believe I was a little bit drunk in that yarn shop (I had to phone the nice people at Visa in order to eat for the last two days of my holiday). That was BEFORE I got seriously back into knitting after a brief hiatus. I started the sweater when I got home. That's right. It's needed a hood, zipper and sewing up for about four years now. I decided this winter that the reason it wasn't done was because I, however much I adore hoods on casual sweaters, do not like them for professional wear, and I dress half-assed professionally all the time. Even on weekends. I know, I'm a freak. Then, there's the whole zipper thing. I've never done that before with knitting. I don't do well with zippers and fabric, so this could be interesting.

The bright-screaming purple/pink is this pattern. Yarn is Galway Heather, and I adore it. It's thick, not scratchy (to me. I have a leather hide, I think). It's straight-up 100% wool, good for just about everything. I bought the yarn this winter at my beloved Wolseley Wardrobe, just when I started going to knit night. I wanted a bright, simple cardigan for the office, and I wanted it quickly. Sadly, it got cast aside when I could no longer bear to only think about Icarus any longer. Oh, and some hats and about a thousand pairs of socks got in the way.

I realize it seems strange to be thinking about finishing sweaters when we are staring at the two hottest months of the year, but damn, the office was cold today. (Of course, two meals in two days and only four hours of sleep last night had nothing to do with it, correct?). For the record I was not hung-over. Though, the only thing missing was the headache. The rest of it felt the same.