FO: French Press Slippers November 15, 2009

Love. These. Slippers. I’ve been wearing them all week! I never used to like having anything on my feet indoors, but my feet seem extra cold this fall and this pattern looked too cozy to pass up. 

Oops! My assistant got in this shot!

Yarn: Elann Peruvian Highland Chunky, 3 skeins

Pattern: French Press Felted Slippers by Melynda Bernardi

This yarn felted amazingly.  I made the 9/10 size and felt to fit my size 11 feet and it worked out just fine.  The only mod I made was to work the all the shaping on knit rows by reversing the row instructions. These were so fast to make; I’m wondering if anyone on my gift list needs slippers? ;)

 

I made some things! November 6, 2009

So, first I designed this hat in September:

And just as I finished it, I saw this. I thought “okay, it’s constructed differently; I’ll contact Alex and see if she’s alright with my version” and I did and she was.  I decided I’d offer three sizes too.  Then this.  And, just this morning, this one.  I don’t know how I didn’t come across these patterns earlier!  So I’ll just write it up in one size and offer the pdf for free on Ravelry.  It should be good practice at any rate.

I made Dax a hat and beard and dressed him as a gnome for Halloween.  It was cheap and easy and he liked it much better than the lion costume we tried first!

I tried so hard to get a picture of him straight on, looking at the camera, standing still for just one second, just one picture, please! but it is completely impossible right now! He is always on the move.

And I finished up his Loch Ness Monster too. I am just glad to have finished it.  Hansi wrote a great pattern and the directions aren’t hard to follow, but my goodness does the knitting require some patience!

I do feel like knitting some more toys now; maybe Dax will get an owl or a monster for Christmas.  He loves stuffed animals and squishy pillows.  But next time I am picking fat yarn and needles!

Yesterday I started making some felted slippers–I saw on some Ravelry project pages that people were knitting them up in only a few hours, and I thought it would take me much longer, but no!  These go super fast!  I just have to finish the seaming and they will be ready to felt.  They are also super ugly before felting! So I haven’t taken a picture yet!

Oh geez, I almost forgot–I’ve also been working on an awesome project with one of Derrick’s family members.  It’s kind of a secret at the moment but it involves corn, knitting, and a football team.  I hope it all works out and I will be sure to share pictures when it comes to fruition :).

Interweave Knits Weekend and mommy stuff September 20, 2009

Yes, that is my baby and me on the cover of Weekend in the jacket I knitted–what a thrill that was for me! The issue looks really good; the magazine has been redesigned a little with new fonts and the patterns appearing directly after each “story” and I like the changes quite a bit.  There are also tidbits of info tucked into some patterns and throughout the magazine which I hope will continue as it is a nice touch.

Last week, Dax turned ONE! I can’t believe it has only taken a year to go from tiny fragile newborn to almost walking, almost talking busy boy.

He’s been into making funny faces. 

Fall is in the air around here and I’m working on a hat pattern that I hope to release within a few weeks–I’ll snap some progress shots this week to share.  I have more ideas I want to knit, but the knitting that actually comes to be never really quite catches up to what you can imagine in your head, unfortunately!

xoxo Katie

Interweave Knits and knitscene Fall 2009 July 28, 2009

Yay, I can share some secret knitting!

First up, the Felicity Hat from Fall Interweave Knits. I love love love this hat.  Even Derrick said “That’s a nice design!”.  The yarn, Berrocco Ultra Alpaca Light, is warm and beautiful; the heathery colors were perfect for this project.

I snapped a few photos before sending the hat away for the photoshoot.

The best thing about this hat is that it was a fun challenge to design.  It’s knit flat; the rows go from the brim to the crown and the hat is shaped into wedges using short rows.  I like the crisp look of the 1×1 rib which was picked up after the hat was sewn together (I grafted the live stitches to the cast-on stitches for a virtually invisible seam).  I don’t often think that I look good in hats but I think this one is super flattering and I would love to knit another just for me!

The colors and stripes remins me of the snow/skateboarder’s sweaters from the late 90’s; the ones with the stripes down the sleeves and across the chest.  So I named it “Felicity” for the TV show that just screams late 90’s.

Next, the Maximum Stripe Pullover from the Fall issue of knitscene!

I loved knitting this stitch pattern; it’s a modified sailor rib worked mostly in the round. The result is a cushy and stretchy sweater that is easy to knit and cute to wear!

Summer Craftiness July 10, 2009

Well, I’ve been feeling a little more like knitting but I’m not pushing it at the moment.  I’ve been sewing; finishing up some curtains I started a long time ago and now the three big windows in our living room are covered. 

It’s been pretty hot here and I really like drawing the curtains and hanging out in a darker room during the day.

 

And then there’s this dress.  The darts are done, the zipper’s in, but I am having some trouble with the curved yoke seam.  It’s crazy and I haven’t felt up to tackling easing it in.  The pattern looked easy enough, but yuck on the yoke!  Stripes also may not have been the best fabric choice, but I like it and it came from my overflowing stash.

This is the Trellis and Keyhole Tank by Connie Chang Chinchiofrom Summer 09 Knits–the Hempathy I pulled from my stash is a little different gaugewise so I’ve fiddled with the numbers and changed the shaping a little too.  Stockinette in the round is some of my favorite knitting and easy to do at the end of the day while almost asleep.  We’ve been watching Conan on the Tonight Show recently and I miss the wackiness they had at Late Night but I do appreciate the earlier time; I knit and watch as much of the show as I can before totally crashing out.  Everyone hears it from parents, but gah, so tired!  Once they get mobile, man, it’s all over.

Out of the loop June 16, 2009

Someone really likes to swing!

My lack of posting here reflects my recent inability to keep up with what’s happening in the knitting world-online, in print, everywhere.  I feel such a disconnect due to the fact that I’ve been finishing up a deluge of contract knitting; I haven’t even been able to take the time to get inspired and submit new ideas.  Finding balance between motherhood and being me is continuing to be a challenge and though I have a feeling that will always be the case, I also think we will be able to find something that works for us.  We’re just not quite there yet.

So what’s been happening?  What have I missed?  Have you seen anything awesome recently? I would love to hear about it; link it or mention it in the comments and I’d really appreciate it!

To fall back in love with knitting, I think a personal and seasonal project is in order, and most importantly a pre-written pattern! I’m thinking a cute, flowy, summery tank or tunic.  I’ll have to poke around the stash tonight and see what I can come up with; I know I have some linen, hempathy, bamboo, and even soy up there…hmmmm.  I’m excited by the possibilities!

Snow Day/Sneak Peek March 27, 2009

Some snow

Some secret knitting

Some more growing

Lots of cuddling

Spring is Sprung March 25, 2009

Spring is sprung

The grass is riz

I wonder where the birdies is?

I don’t know the origins of that little rhyme, but I heard it from my grandfather and my mom often when I was growing up, and now I always remember it when spring rolls around.  I get so impatient for spring and summer; in my mind, winter months are December through February and you bet I’m not happy if I see any snow after that!  Which ultimately means I’m setting myself up for disappointment every year.  I’m working on it.

Last week on a sunny afternoon, Dax “helped” me plant seeds for our garden.  We planted cilantro, lots of basil, tomatoes, summer squash, kohlrabi, peppers, and spinach.  I was surprised to see the pepper already sprouting on Sunday! Last year was my first attempt at a garden and I pretty much gave up.  I was hugely pregnant, it was very hot, I got a late start, and it just didn’t go well.  This year I remembered to start the seeds indoors and I’m spending more time at home so I want to really dedicate myself to the veggies.  I’m planning on planting the herbs and tomatoes in containers and the rest in our raised bed. 

Derrick thinks I am just going to kill everything, so it’s on like Cheech & Chong. I can’t resist a challenge.

On the knitting front: more and more and more secret knitting.  But when I feel like it is about to do me in, I sneak a few rows on my Monkey. 

I love turning heels.  It may be my favorite part of sock knitting. (It’s definitely not knitting twisted rib.)

After I finish secretly knitting secret things, I want to design a slouchy hat.  Do you think the world can sustain another?  Or will it upset the balance of the world, stretching the fabric of the universe until it can bear the weight of slouchy-hat-patterns no longer? We’ll just have to see what happens.  I was inspired by a hat that Russell Brand of all people was wearing in a photo (Russell Brand is a crude British comedian with a….curious fashion sense.  He played the rock star in Forgetting Sarah Marshall if you’ve seen it.).  So I’m thinking of knitting it in this yarn I picked up at Hobby Lobby.  I’ll swatch and see how it goes; it may be way too drapey for what I have in mind, something a little tam-ish. 

 Spa by Caron; 75% acrylic, 25% bamboo

Hobby Lobby (tha HL, if you roll like dat) has some interesting yarns.  I saw more sock yarns and “natural” yarns than last time I was there.  I wonder if the more “budget-friendly” yarn companies will be experiencing growth due to the economy?  Crafts tend to be pretty secure during recessions but I’d be interested to see if people are spending their money in different places and on different items.  I’m definitely going to make a conscious effort to support my LYS (as well as other local and independent businesses) because they are often hit hard. 

Okay, that was quite a tangent!  Got to get back to knitting!

xoxo, Katie

St. Paddy’s Breakfast and a swap! March 18, 2009

I would have gotten a better photo, but I was up and ready to drink this before sunrise.  Don’t be alarmed; it’s actually a green smoothie!  I’ve been trying to drink one every day to get my leafy greens in–you see, I hate salads.  From time to time, I’ll order one in a restaurant (sometimes because it sounds delish, sometimes because it’s my only option) but make one at home?  Crazy talk!  Yesterday’s was frozen pineapple, baby spinach, a splash of lemonade, and water.  My favorite so far is frozen mango, baby spinach, and orange juice.  Throw it all in a blender and you’re set.  Yum.

Lots of secret knitting stuff going on; in a pattern-writing and sample-knitting-slog this week.  I need to wrap it all up before the weekend because I’m itching to finish up Dax’s Loch Ness Monster and all that’s left on Chris’s hat is weaving in ends and blocking.  And I just signed up for a really fun swap; Adrian and Maritzaare organizing a crochet pot-holder/hot pad swap!  Sign-ups are through the 21st, so hop on over to the blog for details!

TMI (too much inspiration) March 7, 2009

I’ve made a little progress on the Monkey socks while Dax has been napping.  This pattern is lots of fun and easy to memorize (as the 8, 338 other folks on Ravelry who have made it can surely attest!). 

Last week, I picked up two new magazines,  Craft Stylish and Debbie Bliss Knitting Magazine Spring/Summer 2009.  I just figured out via Ravelry that the Debbie Bliss one is actually (some? or all?) reprinted patterns.  I don’t mind as I don’t have any DB pattern booklets and there are quite a few things I found inspiring.  I love to look at knitting patterns; I usually get lots of new ideas for designs and it just gets me excited about knitting.  First up I’d like to knit this for summer, and I might have enough Euroflax in a nice neutral in my stash to do it:

The neckline seems a little shifty, but any potential wardrobe malfunction could be prevented with a tank top. 

I also liked this cardigan, but realized that it has a hood and drop sleeves, and that I’d really have to redesign it to get what I want.  The mistake rib is really what drew me in, so I might just borrow the stitch pattern and come up with a nice spring cardigan myself. Motherhood has changed some things about my style; I end up wearing cardigans or hooded sweatshirts more often than pullovers (especially convenient for breastfeeding) but have knit mostly pullovers in the past.  I’m also finding that I feel like I can’t wear anything with a lot of fuzz around the baby; it just feels like more potential for dirtying it or something.  Yarn with a smooth, cool hand would be better.  And I miss accessories! Too many things for Dax to grab onto and rip or put in his mouth. 

And the Craft Stylish magazine had a really cute idea for refashioning a big t shirt into a really cute tunic, which got all kinds of sewing fantasies in my head.  (I found the rest of the magazine to be kind of meh; the projects didn’t all seem to be aimed at the same reader; some were very trendy and others a little frumpier.) I have too much fabric (and clothes, really) that I should do  and want to do something with.  Could I really set aside say 2 hours a week to revamp/sew something for myself?  I think I’m going to try to do just that.  After I finish the curtains that have been sitting around since July…….