I guess I should have...

I must admit the biggest joy I get from knitting is presenting a finished object to someone.  Seeing their reaction and knowing that they truly feel special is a rush I could never quantify, nor could I have expected.  I have even given an adoring friend a scarf that I was wearing off my bloody neck (not literally, that would be gross).  But let me clarify, I only present a gift to someone that appreciates a hand-knit.  No sense in giving something to someone who thinks you're a madwoman for spending countless hours producing a garment that can easily be bought at a store for a fifth of the price in five minutes or less.   But I digress. 

At one point shortly after I picked up the craft, I decided to do something completely different and knit something for ME.  Little fitted vests were all the rage, still are, especially in the business world.   I envisioned a smart little cable knit vest that I could wear to work and people, nix that, the women in my office (they are few and far between on a trading desk) would say "Oh my! What a beautiful vest!" and I would proudly respond "Why thank-you! I knit this myself!".   And the convo of oohs and ahs would be momentus and the cat would be out of the bag that I was a closet knitter and that cool people knit too.  (btw, the cat's out, not sure what the verdict is on the cool status).  Well, things didn't quite go as planned.  The vest is great.  But the vest on ME - not so great.   I guess I should have done a little bit more reading on making a knit pattern work for YOU and I guess I should have pulled out the tape measure to double check the length of my torso and I guess I should have accounted for the permanent post-baby belly (or taken up a more steady habit of sit-ups).   Should have been longer.  Should have measured. 


So what have I learned through this whole escapade?  Guesses + Should Haves = One more gifted knit....

Pattern:   Two-over-two Vest

by:  Jennifer L. Appleby

Yarn:  1 skein Berroco Ultra Alpaca

Fit for a Princess

What do you do when your daughter is the only one to show up to a community centre ballet class sans tutu?  And howls conspicuously at the inept mother (that would be me)  "I don't want to dance, I don't have a tutu!!!!"  Parents chuckled; I'm sure I saw a couple of them sneer.  Please, give me a shovel so I can dig myself a shallow grave.  Ok, so call me a bad mother...I didn't know these parents went all out for a $5/day class!  Rest assured, I was prepared for the next class and the little diva angel was decked out like Karen Kain.

I feared little one was still a bit disgruntled over the whole ordeal and I thought what can I do to make up for subjecting her to her first traumatic experience of being *gulp* underdressed for the party???  If you're me, you knit yourself back into the good books with pretty princess slippers.   Felted in my washing machine with a skeptical husband looking on.  Finished off with sparkly heart buttons carefully selected by the prima ballerina herself.

  

$5 in yarn may very well have decreased the future therapy costs incurred on said princess exponentially....(a mother hopes...)

Pattern:  Felted Princess Slippers

By: Nataly Alves - Free pattern!

download now

Yarn:  Mei Mei Bulky Felting Wool Colour #708

Yardage: 100 yards

(great yarn on ebay:  http://stores.shop.ebay.ca/MeiMei-Yarn-Needle-Crafts__W0QQ_armrsZ1)

Precious...

When choosing a knit for a new baby, one should choose something functional.   It should be knit a couple sizes bigger than the baby to get good use out of it.   Afterall, when spending x number of hours knitting away at something, you'd hope that little wee one could wear it more than once.

It should be fairly straightfoward to put on the little joy to appease the jittery hands of new parents.  Babies hate having things put over their head, you're guaranteed a red faced scream every time.   It should be neutral in colour, so that the next generation of babies of unknown genders can enjoy this beautiful family heirloom.

OR, you can throw out all that logic out the proverbial window and cast on for the most adorable little NEWBORN sized, BLUE sleeper, that fits OVER the head, for the most precious baby boy due to arrive any minute.   Precious trumps function.  Always.

Procrast.... (I'll finish that thought later)

About a year ago I was inspired to knit a simple lace pattern t-shirt for my goddaughter.  It is a great pattern, one that is a bit more grown up and fashionable, but still quite age appropriate.    I zoomed through the knit quickly and bound off excitedly.   And after that either I slipped into a coma or I began the world's longest soujourn through the depths of procrastination the planet has ever seen.  All I needed to do was weave in the ends.  That's it.  I didn't have to steek anything, I didn't have to pick up stitches and knit a trim, I didn't even have to really block the thing since it looks great as is (but I will).  One year.  To weave in ends.  Wow,  I suck.

Needless to say, what once fit a 5 year old a year ago, no longer fits a 6 year old today.  Luckily I have a dancing 3 year old ballerina that will get some use out of it (for a couple years to come).

Is it too late to declare a New Year's resolution?  I WILL FINISH WHAT I STARTED!  No procrastination.  No more unfinished objects lying in the ether of "almost done" land.  Eh, it's almost February, it's too late.  I'll resolute next year....

Pattern: Marina - Leaves Top by Simona Merchant-Dest

Zoom...uh...oops....

From a very young age I characteristically have been known to zoom ahead in any task with little regard for those trivial "baby steps".   It happened in ballet class at age 3 when I wanted to pirouette with a flouncy tutu across the stage like a real prima ballerina.   When the class consisted of the aforementioned baby steps that amounted to little more than marching around the room with "knees up high", I was distraught to say the least.  My dancing career was very short-lived.  30 years later when I tell my daughter to join in and "dance!" to which she matter-of-factly replies "But Mommy, they're not DANCING!", I have to grin and shut right up.   I know where she's coming from.   

Again I was faced with this whole "baby steps" hogwash in Grade 10 when my dad and I signed up for downhill skiing lessons.  I gave up after 2 lessons because I had no patience for all those little details. Snowplow?!  Snowplowing is for wusses.  I'm going straight down this hill and not you or that parked car at the bottom of the baby hill can stop me.   Oh wait.  That car can stop me.  And then my spectacle can stop the entire mountain of skiers so they can point and laugh at my crumpled body lying in a heap on top of the snow.  (True story)  

I face this problem time and time again.  I glance over things, I read things semi-thoroughly, I listen with one ear.   One could say it's a bad habit, but I like to think it's my joie-de-vivre that compels me to absorb EVERYTHING all at once without wanting to miss out on any of the good stuff, while those little details sometimes pass me by.   


It doesn't escape me in my knitting.  Problem is knitting is ALL about attention to detail.  Not to miss a single "yarn over", or a "make one".  Or in this case, in Stephanie Japel's Reclamation Scarf pattern which is a stitch pattern of TWO honkin' rows repeated for Pete's Sake, and I manage to screw that up!  So here it is, in my haste to read two lines of directions accurately, a Reclamation Scarf that increases at both the beginning AND end of every row (quite accidentally by mistake...).  Luckily I'm too busy joie-de-vivre-ing it up to care!   On to the next adventure!

Pattern: Reclamation Scarf by Stephanie Japel

Yarn:  Hand dyed Berroco Alpaca

Amount:  1/4 skein

Little Shrug

Dear Child;

I was concerned for you. I really was. I thought you would be cold on your big day (flower girl). So I cast on this little shrug RIGHT AWAY for you. I pillaged some cotton yarn from a blanket I had been making (yawn, I despise knitting blankets, so maybe you did me a favour there). I fervently knit this shrug with a deadline only 7 days away. I knit this on the subway. I knit this during my girls’ cottage weekend with a hangover as my friends stared peculiarly at me while sipping on their caesars (one day you will fully appreciate this feat). I knit and knit and made it just in time. I washed and blocked this shrug…I stretched the armholes that I feared I knit too small. I dried it on top of the warm dryer to speed up the process. I packed it in our suitcase filled with flower girl paraphernalia. The big day came and went. You were a true princess from head to toe. And it was warm. You didn’t need this silly little shrug. But, Dearest Child, after all this fret filled knitting, can you please, please just put this wretched shrug on for 2.3 seconds so I can take a picture??


Signed,


Your shrug hating mother.

Pattern:    Mon Petit Shrug by Jessica Rode Salonen Craft

Needle: US 3 / 3.25 mm

Yarn: Bernat Organic Cotton

How much? 1.5 skeins = 120.0 yards (109.7m)

Ribbit and Grumpy Old Bear

Pattern: Ribbit by Susan B. Anderson
Yarn: Herrschners Whisper Soft
Colorway: Green

Pattern: Grumpy Old Bear by Susan B. Anderson
Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca

This little bear is so cute, you can stop knitting until it’s done! I de-stashed and used up some of my Kool-Aid hand-dyed Alpaca. In true bean bear fashion, I stuffed this little guy with dried beans and cotton batting. It quickly turned into a hacky sack game with my brothers (and the seams held up!) This was my first toy I’ve ever knit, and with Susan Anderson’s great instructions, it’s hard to go wrong.

The frog's body is a tennis ball! It's a big hit with any kid, whether to cuddle it or launch it across the room! I wish my finishing and embroidery work were a little more "pretty", but I managed to get the job done. Luckily I have an inside connection on my tennis ball supply, so next up is bunny....