What I Love :: Grey

A few months ago, Amanda did a series of posts about what she loves. It was a sweet little series, and inspiring. Sometimes I still find myself thinking about some of the photos (particularly the one of her grandmother's hands and the one of her 3 year-old son's foot climbing a tree).

Here's something I love: grey.

winter finally came this week

there's nothing quite like the quiet, cold beauty of an ice storm's aftermath

I love grey.

Easy V-Neck Raglan.
So close to done I can hardly stand it.
Actually, the knitting has been done for a few days now.
There's just a little finishing left, plus I need to re-do the bind-off of the body (again)
to make it a bit stretchier.

This raglan is in a duel with another knit to become my first FO of 2007. I don't know which will win yet, but stay tuned. One day very soon, there will be an actual FO on here.

And stay tuned, also, for the results of the Malabrigo blogiversary drawing. It's not too late to leave a comment and be entered!

Blogiversary - and a giveaway

So it was a year ago tonight that I first started doing this blog thing (I know my archives go back to August 2005, but that was because I went back and added in posts and FOs to try to sort of track my knitting obsession from the beginning). I date the beginning of my knitting obsession with my discovering of the online knitting world, and knitting blogs were certainly a part of it. Since starting my own blog, my interest has expanded into other craft blogs as well (especially sewing blogs, but also general craftiness and kid-focused crafts as well). I love the online craft community, and have gained so much knowledge and inspiration from my visits to the many wonderful blogs out there.

I started this blog partly because I wanted to be a part of that amazing community, and partly because I wanted to track my own projects, dreams, wonderings, and learnings in someplace other than the jumbled space that is my mind. It has been such a great experience for me to be able to go back and read old posts, look at pics of old FOs and get both a sense of accomplishment at what I have done and a sense of my own growth as a knitter, a seamstress, a mother, a person. Greater still has been to get encouragement, advice, and general wittiness from those of you who are kind enough to visit my blog. I treasure every comment that has been left.

Now's my turn to give something back, humble though it may be. Just a small little something.

MmmmmMalabrigo
1 skein
#195, Black

This sweet little bundle is looking for a home. I bought this with a specific project in mind and then went a different direction (both in terms of color and yarn). I'm certain I could find a use for it someday [1 skein is the perfect amount for any number of quick projects: a hat, a scarf, some wristwarmers, some thick bedroom socks, or even as the upper color in some felted clogs], but I'm also trying to be disciplined with myself about stash management right now. I thought Malabrigo would make a nice little giveaway for one of my readers. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post. On Thursday, January 18th (because 18 is my favorite number), I'll draw a name at random [hey, given my normal amount of blog traffic, you have roughly a 25% chance of winning!]. If I pick your name, the skein is yours. [fair warning: Rachel has a real talent for winning this kind of random name-drawing competition. Exhibit A. Exhibit B. edited to add: Dude, seriously, it's uncanny. She did it again. Exhibit C.] Check back sometime late Thursday or early Friday for the results of the drawing.

Thank you, blogland, for everything you've given me. Mwah!

Y is for Yarn

The letter Y.
Brought to you by the Melissa and Doug Alphabet Train Puzzle.

What I love when my boys play with this puzzle - though they can't remember how to pronounce "octopus" or that I is for "igloo," and though they call the violin a guitar (okay, actually "too-tar") and the xylophone a piano, they know one thing for sure. Y is for yarn.

I've got plenty of yarn already on the needles, and some that ought to be on the needles right now (or, to be more accurate, should've already been on the needles and then off again and given as a present). Still, my mind is on my next deadline: the Knitting Help Sockintine Swap (deadline: Valentine's Day). So of course, that meant more yarn.

Mmmmm. Blackberry goodness.
Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock, #4ns, blackberry
from Angelika's Yarn Store
(I love Angelika's: super-quick shipping, great customer service)

The power of suggestion.
Yes, that's the exact same colorway shown in the book.
I'll be doing Fancy Silk Sock from Knitting Vintage Socks.

One of these days, I'm going to do a post showing all the FOs I've done that are in the exact same color as the sample in the pattern. I'm a marketer's dream. But I don't mind. I love this yarn, and I love this color.

Meanwhile, I'm working on a different kind of yarn project: stash management, organization, and downsizing. I emptied my craft closet of all my yarn and am trying to sort through it now. I'm a bit overwhelmed.

Yes, boys, you and Melissa and Doug are right: Y is for yarn.

2006: A Knitty Review

I know we are well into the new year now, but I haven't had time till right about this moment to step back and take a little stock of the year that just passed. So. A review. This meme is from A Mingled Yarn

Year's End Knit-analysis

1. What is your absolute favorite project you've ever knit (one that fulfilled both process and product)?
Probably Cozy. I loved knitting it - the pattern was just enough of a challenge to keep me engaged. I just never got tired of it, even though it was the same eight rows, over and over again. Also, I loved the feel (and the smell!) of the yarn, so it was always a joy to pick up. And I was perfectly thrilled with how it came out.

2. Which of your handknits do you wear the most often?
It's a tie, actually, between three things. The first is Cozy, which I put on almost every morning as soon as I get up. The other two are the two pairs of socks I've made for myself - Simply Lovely Lace Socks, and my Toe-Up Tuscaknit Socks, both of which I wear to bed rather frequently. The funny thing is, with all three of these, even though I wear them quite often, I almost never wear them out in public. I prefer plain black socks or black-and-grey tights for work, and I don't typically have a reason to wear a shawl out (I wore it once to church and once to a wedding rehearsal).

3. Which of your handknits are you most proud of?
I suppose it would be repetitive for me to say Cozy again. So I'll mix things up and say this baby layette, which I knit for My Old Man's new grandson, born this past July. I love squishy cotton baby knits, and I felt such a sense of accomplishment at completing this sweet little set.

4. What was your favorite gift to knit?
Hmmm, maybe these felted clogs, because they were so fun and quick. I also really enjoyed making My Old Man a sweater, and I get all warm inside every time I see him wearing it.

5. Which of your handknits are gathering dust your closet?
To Dye For
single brown child's sock
single ugly orange child's sock
London Beanie
the too-big, too-little hat
the boys' felted clogs
and the never-before-seen Anthropologie-Inspired Disaster
I put it down halfway into the project, and when I picked it back up, I forgot how I was doing the selvage. More than once. So there are multiple mistakes in the edging, and it turns out the way I chose to do the selvage originally (a chain selvage) ended up making the edge roll.

6. Which of your handknits have you gotten rid of?
None. Though I do intend to frog the capelet (above) and my first scarf in order to re-use the yarn (the lovely but discontinued Rowan Polar, in both cases)

7. If you've knit socks, what is your favorite pattern?
I LOVE Simply Lovely Lace Socks from IK Spring 2006

8. What would you like to make in 2007?
My list already is ridiculously long:
CJ's voodoo wristwarmers
Men's Zippered Raglan for My Old Man
several more pairs of felted clogs (for recipients who will actually wear them!)
glampyre's easy v-neck raglan for me
Tubey for me
socks, socks, and socks
a couple of Tomtens for the boys
Bea Ellis hat for me
a ribbed watchcap for me
knit-and-tonic's dreamswatch headband in bamboo
a couple of log cabin blankets for the boys
another lace shawl for me (you know, because I have so many places to wear a shawl)
and so on, and so on, and so on
[yeah, I know there's a lot of stuff on there just for me. I'm like that.]

9. What have you learned about your craft in 2006?
A whole lot. This year I did my first sweater, my first socks, my first lace, my first baby layette, and there were a whole lot of other firsts in there, I'm sure.

10. What events/sites have you particularly enjoyed in the blogosphere in 2006?
I really enjoyed The Amazing Lace, the event that got me knitting Cozy, which as you can see from this meme, was a pretty major knit in my life this year.

Wow. I can't believe how long it took me to compile this list. It was fun, though, to go back and look at old posts and see things I've knit over the last year. I feel like I've accomplished a lot. Here's to more in 2007!

I Made. I Gave. I Got.

(yeah, I know that's not the meaning of Christmas; it's just what I'm writing about today)

A review.

What I made:
Sock monkeys? No.
My Old Man's Zippered Raglan Sweater? No.
Dove garland I insanely started 2 nights before Christmas? No.
Stockings?

Yes.
The middle one I knit for MIL. Don't ask about the pointy toe. It's a design feature. ;)
The ones on either side of it are the ones I sewed for the boys. I'm quite proud of them.
(I didn't make the two outer ones.)

Christmas gift for CJ?
Sort of.
I did finish a Scrunchable Scarf for her, in Malabrigo Brown Berries.
But it was also going to have a pair of matching Voodoo Wrist Warmers.
Soon, CJ, I promise!

Yummy Christmas candy? Yes.
A ridiculously huge Christmas Eve meal for only three adults and two toddlers? Yes.
An utter mess of my house? Oh yes.


What I got:

Here's the yummy undyed Shetland Wool (dk weight) My Old Man's son, C, brought me from England. It came from sheep raised not far from where C lives. How cool is that? I don't yet know what I'll make with it, but I love this yarn, and I love that it is the exact same colors as the sheep it came from. When I hold this yarn, I'm transported to the rolling green hills of the English countryside. Love it.

Yarn for Tubey!

Yarn for Glampyre Knits' Easy V-Neck Raglan!

And a new lens!
(the kitty was not a Christmas gift - she's just posing for me to show off the lens features)
After drooling over the shots Grumperina was taking with this same lens, I put it on my Amazon wish list immediately, and my folks got it for me.

Aside from giving and getting, the holidays were both great and draining. An eight-day trip (six days of which included driving anywhere from 3 hours to 8 hours), 2500 miles on the car, two sick boys, and two sick parents doesn't make for the most relaxing "break." But now it's January. I love January. I love a fresh start. Hope your year is happy!

Lagniappe!

lagniappe :: (Creole) an unexpected gift



Sweet Sarah knocked my socks off with this unexpected and thoroughly yummy gift - Malabrigo!!! 2 skeins, in Marron Oscuro. I don't yet know what I'll make with it, but that has been part of the fun - thinking through all the possibilities. I have never received non-planned-for yarn before (i.e., every other yarn gift to this point has been something My Old Man got me for a pattern I already had in mind, and I directed him to the exact yarn, exact color, exact number of skeins, exact shop)**, so this is quite a treat!


I was utterly disappointed with an early Christmas present from a family member who clearly knows me not (hint: when in doubt, see Sarah's gift, above). I wasted no time in returning the gift (yes, I'm one of those people) and getting something I really wanted instead. A Bea Ellis Hat Kit (traditional). Ordered on Friday, it arrived on Monday. I couldn't be happier. This will be my first fair isle project.

Though my knitting lately has been mostly unappreciated , fraught with mistakes , or completely behind deadline, I have done one little Christmas project that I am super-proud of - and that has been truly appreciated. The uber-precious soft trees from little birds handmade. I just love them, and - unbelievably - so do my boys (especially Little Buddha, who sometimes takes two or three to bed with him). The three solid color ones are done in felt and the other three were made with cotton fat quarters. I see more of these in my future, though perhaps not this year.

The final bit of lagniappe this week was cooking-related. We had some good friends over for dinner on Monday, something we almost never do anymore (i.e., since the boys were born). I somehow managed to pull the whole thing off, including a rather gourmet meal, but the real coup was the salad, which I came up with myself (and, though I love to cook and bake, I am not known for experimentation in the kitchen; just as I like a pattern for knitting and sewing, I like a recipe for cooking and baking).

Anyway, I was thoroughly pleased with myself for this little number, which was a big hit. In addition to being light and tasty, it had a very Christmas-y look to it. And since I've received so much lagniappe this week, I'm passing some lagniappe on to you.

earthchick's Christmas Candy Salad*
vinaigrette:
3 T blood orange vinegar (I use Cuisine Perel)
2 t honey
1/2 C extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
- mix the vinegar and honey, whisk in the olive oil, add salt and pepper

salad:
7 oz. mesclun mix (with plenty of red greens)
1/2 cup-ish of blue cheese, crumbled
1/2 cup-ish of walnuts, toasted
1/2 cup-ish pomegranate seeds**
optional: 1 bosc pear, peeled and sliced (I didn't have a pear, but as I ate the salad, I thought it would've been a great addition)
- put all ingredients in a large bowl, add dressing, and toss.

*I call this "Candy" Salad because my sons believe that pomegranate seeds are candy. They are soooo good just for snacking, that I sort of feel like they're candy, too!
** to get the seeds, submerge a pomegranate in a large bowl of water. While the pomegranate is under the water, use a sharp knife to cut the fruit into 6 or 8 pieces. Use a spoon (I still keep the fruit underwater for this) to dig out the seeds. Remove whatever pulp and fruit you can with your hands, then pour the rest of the bowl through a strainer. You may need to pick some more pulp off the seeds.

The salad make a lovely Christmas presentation, with its red, green, and white colors, and is super-simple to make. Happy lagniappe to you! (if you make it, I'd love to know what you think of it, esp. if you make any changes or additions that you find tasty)

*Gah! I totally forgot about the AWESOME yarn gift My Old Man's Son C gave me for Christmas when he visited earlier this month. I had been waiting to post about it till I got a good pic - it's a sweet Shetland yarn, undyed, in yummy natural colors, from a farm in England near where C lives. Pics to come....

Making a List. Checking it Twice.

• Anywhere near done with the boys' Christmas stockings? No.
• Paying attention so that I don't screw up the very simple heel and frog back four times in a row? No.
• Going to finish My Old Man's Zippered Raglan in time for Christmas? Not likely.
• Going to finish the other two Christmas gift knits on my list? Maybe.
• Going to become a sewing convert because of how quickly a machine can crank out FOs? Possibly.
• Going to stay up late on Christmas Eve sewing sock monkeys and wrapping gifts? Definitely.
  
• Going to have the house clean in time for MIL's visit on Thursday? No.
• Laughing inside, while trying to act stern, every time Little Buddha asks Tiny Dancer, "Do you want a time-out?" Yes.
• Crying inside, while trying to act merry, every time I have to go out and shop in an actual brick-and-mortar store? Yes.
• Developing a painful knot in my shoulder from too much online Christmas shopping? Yes.
• Ordered my gift yarn from My Old Man for Tubey? Yes!
• Ordered my Bea Ellis Hat Kit (the traditional one) as a replacement gift for something a family member gave me that I've already returned? Yes.
  
• Obsessed with every little child's Christmas craft idea, even though the craftiest my boys have gotten so far is to scribble on the windowsills, walls, stove, and wood floor? Yes.
• Going to knock myself out with four night-time commitments in the next week, including one I'm hosting, and including two while company is here? Yes.
• Going to try to bake, cook, play hostess, and get ready to leave town at one of my busiest work times of year? Yes.
  
• Going to have everything packed and loaded in time to hit the road after lunch on Christmas day? Not likely.
• Going to enjoy many, many hours of road time happily knitting? Definitely.
• Loving watching my kids enjoy the holidays, even though for me it seems to mean an awful lot of work? Yes, yes, yes.
• Enjoying wearing my Simply Lovely Lace Socks with my new $9 Christmas jammies? Oh yes.....