Handknit Street Style

So Lolly has started a flicker group called Handknit Street Style for people to show how they wear their handknits with other wardrobe pieces. Here's how I'll be wearing my newest FO (the first of 2007).

With a skirt I made!!

With my leather boots from Italy!

Can you tell I'm excited?!? I can't believe I actually made a whole outfit (okay, the sweater and the skirt - it's not like I knit the tights or suddenly learned leathercraft). I'm equally excited that I finally have something to wear that will show off the boots I bought in Italy. When it comes to skirts, I usually wear long slim ones - so this knee-length A-line is something of a departure for me.

What could be better for a snowy winter day, then a grey wool sweater, a black corduroy skirt, and leather boots?

The specs:
pattern: glampyreknits Easy V-Neck Raglan
yarn: Ironstone Harmony, in charcoal grey (11026)
needles: size 9s for the body, the sleeves, and the sleeve ribbing, size 7s for the body ribbing
dates: started December 26, 2006, finished January 18, 2007
modifications: The pattern calls for the ribbing to be done with 7s, but after seeing Amylovie's version and asking her how she did her sleeves, I decided to stick with the 9s (which is what she did). I wish I had done that with the body ribbing too (more on that in a minute.
I also did not decrease the sleeves as much as the pattern called for, because when I did, they were way tighter than I wanted. I did the sleeves four different times to get them the way I wanted (and they are still a wee bit tighter than I might want).
challenges: In addition to having to try four times before I got the sleeves to fit the way I wanted, I had trouble with my bind-off being too tight on the body. The ribbing is done on 7s and at first I bound on with 7s. Not stretchy enough. So I ripped and then bound off with 9s. Still too tight. So I ripped and bound off with 11s. Better, but still I wish it were stretchier. In fact, I wish I had done the body ribbing with 9s so that it would be a little looser overall. Everyone else's easy v-neck seems to hang looser than mine (perhaps I should've gone up a size? but I did the one that went right with my measurements). But the fact is, I don't think I could've managed to do it in 9s, because of this:

That is how much yarn I had left after binding off!
I don't think there's any way I could've had enough yarn to do the ribbing on 9s.

verdict: I love this sweater and I love this pattern. It is a super-fun knit, and pretty quick (though not nearly as quick as SpiderWoman was able to do! A weekend, really? No way I could manage that.) I love the rustic look of this sweater, especially the neckline. I love this yarn. I love that this sweater could equally well with jeans or a skirt. Unlike any other sweaters I've made, I think I will be wearing this one a lot.

The specs:
pattern: Basic A-line skirt from Sew U.
fabric: Black corduroy on clearance at JoAnn's, $2.99/yard, 1 5/8 yards. Black lining from Joann's, $4.99/yard, 1 5/8 yards.
notions: Black zipper (my first zipper!). And, of course, black thread.
dates: January 18-20. Dude. Sewing is so much quicker than knitting.
modifications: I hacked off about 4 inches from the bottom of the basic pattern. And, it turned out that I made the thing too big and had to take it in. I went by the sizing suggestions based on my measurements, but that was tricky because my waist measurement puts me as a large and my hip measurements put me as a small! I thought it would be better to make it too big and have to take it in than to make it too small and have to start all over again. Turns out I could've gone even smaller than I did, so I'm perplexed about which size to make next time (and there will definitely be a next time!). In retrospect, I could've bought a lot less fabric since I ended up with a much smaller skirt than the original pattern I used.
verdict: I couldn't be happier. This is a great, straightforward pattern for a beginner, and the book offers lots of options for variations. With this book and this pattern, I learned how to install a zipper and how to make darts. With the help of the folks at Sewing Mamas, I learned how to take it in. I've discovered that I get very excited by sewing projects, but the energy is totally different from what's involved in knitting. I find it tires me more than knitting, and it's more exciting and less relaxing. I can't wait to make more skirts. And other stuff.

I'm really, really happy with this.

FO revisited: Baby Layette

I know what you're really here for - to find out who won the Malabrigo. Patience, grasshopper, it's coming.

But first, you simply must look at this:

That's Baby J! In the layette I made him!
(for those new to this blog, J is My Old Man's grandson)
For Christmas, My Old Man's daughter gave me a framed picture of J in the whole ensemble.
And I asked for a digital copy to put on my blog.
(you may remember that I took pics this summer but was hesitant to post them without permission and too embarrassed to ask for that permission)

Squishy little baby.
Squishy little knits.

Here he is at 2 weeks, in the hat.

Dude. I so need another one, don't I?

Like I've said before, this was probably the knit I was most proud of in 2006. I still can't believe I planned well enough to get the whole thing done in time for his birth (which was 6 months ago tomorrow).

Okay, okay, thanks for indulging me. Now, without further ado, the blogiversary giveaway winner is:

Lauren

(HamaLee from KnittingHelp)

Congrats, Lauren! I'll send you a PM at KH to get your mailing address.


Besides being a shameless ploy to get more traffic over here on my blog, this giveaway has been really fun. I might have to do it again sometime!

Coming very soon: an FO, for real. And maybe more than just a knitting FO. We'll see....

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!