Two Feet

Salmon and Orange Chinese Poppies

Hello!

After my big FO Friday, I was all set to do a Cast On Monday.  But it was Memorial Day in the USA, so I went to the movies with my husband and youngest son, L, instead.  We saw Men in Black III, and enjoyed it quite a bit.  Not as good at MIB I but definitely better than MIB II.

WIP's

I have cast on and am already about 2/3 finished with a hat for the Sharing Our Gifts  Group on Ravelry.  We are making chemo hats this month.  I bought some super soft yarn at The Knittery, in a rather dark brown, darker than I like to knit, but I know they need hats for men, as well as women, so I thought I would make a guy's hat.

The yarn is Plymouth Yarn's Dream Baby DK and I am using size 3.5mm (US 4) needles with a 16" cable.

This color is close to the true color.  The photos of the hat in progress, are a bit washed out, and make it look more gray than brown.

I have finished the brim and the first part of the pattern.  I am now on the upper chart.  This hat, Brennius Hat by Orna Ferenz, is a really nice guy hat, with a bit of a slouch to it.

The second new project is a doll for my husband's god daughter, M.  I have already made her the Coco the Cat doll,

but, I was looking through the wonderful blog, Flutterby Patch, and the delightful doll and animal patterns for sale there, and at her Etsy store Dollytime, when I saw a doll that looked just like M!  I had to get the pattern.  The doll I am making is called, Belinda Jane,  has curly copper colored hair.  My niece, M, is a definite ginger, and her hair is curly, too.

The doll patterns for sale on this site have such wonderful expressions.  I hope I can come close to making my doll look like them.

Of course, I have changed the pattern a bit.  It calls for a lot of knitting flat and then sewing up.  So I decided to knit what I could in the round and save my self some sewing.  This seemed to work ok for the head and the body.  But when I got to the feet and legs I ran into some interesting ... well,

For the first foot/leg combination, the pattern starts with the shoe, adds the sock then the leg.  The shoe is knitted flat, the sock and leg continue on up, then the whole thing is sewn together and stuffed.

back of shoe sewn closed

  I wasn't sure how the shoe was going to come together, so I knitted it flat, but when I got to the sock, I connected the sides, and proceeded in the round with 4 double pointed needles for the sock and leg.  The leg looked ok, but the shoe was HUGE.

Having figured out how the shoe comes together, for the second shoe/sock/leg, I decided to knit the entire thing in the round, stuffing as I go.  I started with Judy's Magic Cast On, as though I were making a toe-up sock, and knit up the shoe.  I didn't really think about the tension, other than trying to keep everything tight, so that when I stuff it, you won't be able to see the stuffing.  But, I am a rather loose knitter, and this is especially true for my purling.  So, when knitting in the round, I am able to keep my tension much tighter.  This meant that the second shoe is quite a bit smaller than the first, though the socks/legs are about the same.

I like the size of the smaller shoe much better than the big one, even though there is a bit of a ridge where I did a 3-needle bind off.  I will have to frog the first shoe/sock/leg and reknit it.

If I don't, this poor dolly will have a bit of a limp.

Where in the World is f1bercat?

I managed to knit 5.35 miles today.  I told myself to just knit for 25 minutes, and don't worry about the distance, but I got caught up in the knitting (I am working on my Spa Wash Cloths, from the Liz Marino Gift Knits Club design) and went a bit over.  Then, I got on a treadmill, and walked for another 1/4 mile.  I don't really like walking on the treadmill because I can't knit while I do it, but I need to get in better walking shape for the summer.

The 5.35 miles puts me at a total of 206.53 miles knitted.  I am still outside Portland.


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and not very close to any Yarn Shops.  I have about 12 more miles until I reach my daughter, S, at Portland State University.  I should be there by Friday.  I can't wait to see her, if only virtually.

Good night everyone.  Stay safe and well.

Yours,
f1bercat
shaping the planet two mismatched feet at a time

Larger Pile of Cat Barf? Or A Shawl?

2012.05.24 Red Chinese Poppy

WIP

I am on the 9th repeat of 13 repeats of the main pattern of the Echo Flower Shawl  by Jenny Johnson Johnen I am making for my mom.  You might remember my earlier post about this shawl.

 It was a KAL for the Beginning Lace Knitters Group on Ravelry.  I did not start mine in time to knit it with the group because I was finishing my Princess Lace Wrap,

and I did NOT want to be knitting two lace projects at the same time.  It was bad enough that I was knitting that wrap and a pair of socks with a lace pattern, the Hearts Abound Socks for my sister, K.

 I kept confusing parts of the two patterns and knitting wrap stitches on the socks, and sock stitches on the wrap.  Much better to stick to one lace project at a time.  Of course, the Mock for SKA (Sock Knitters Anonymous) this month , Chiendent, designed  by the talented Rose Hiver, has a lace pattern, but it is so easy to remember, I am not confusing it with the shawl.  Or, at least I hope not.

When I hit eight repeats, I got really excited, and thought, "Wow!  I am half way finished."  But then I thought about the fact that I am adding 2 new sections with every new repeat, so, um, I'm too tired to do the math, but I am not half way.  This pattern is not hard, hence the Beginning Lace Knitters KAL, but I have to pay attention while I am working on it.  I can not watch TV, that's for sure.  I usually listen to a podcast, but not CraftLit because I have to pay attention to that one.  As it is, I sometimes have to replay parts of what ever I am listening to because I tend to block it out while I am knitting on this shawl.  Lately I have been trying to finish 2 rows every night.  Sometimes I manage more, sometimes, nothing at all.

But it is starting to have the shape of a shawl.  And I still love the yarn, Cascade Alpaca Lace in Cream.

Where in the World is f1bercat?

I have knit 201.18 miles!  Wooot!  Broke the 200 mile barrier today.  I had to take my car in for the 50,000 mile service check, and I almost used that as an excuse not to ride/knit. Instead, I rode and knitted, then went straight to the Dealer, yes, sweaty and wearing sweatpants and a T-shirt.  I refused to care.  It took about 1 hour to change the oil, etc, regular maintenance, and I knitted in the waiting room.  Then I stopped at the Knittery on the way home and picked up some yarn for a chemo hat that I want to make for the Sharing Our Gifts Group.  I am so glad I stuck to my exercise schedule.  I am still sitting on the side of the road.


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This is starting to remind me a bit of when I was stuck on the side of the road near Joint Base Lewis-McCord.  This highway is forever, and there are no yarn shops until I get to Portland.  I scouted ahead a bit and look at the map of Portland with the search for Yarn shops:


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Pretty amazing.

Ok, I hope to post FO (finished objects) tomorrow, so I need to get off my blog and get back to knitting.

Yours,
f1bercat
shaping the planet one almostish scarf at a time

Orange Chinese Poppy

The one where I waited too late to post then did this lame post because I wanted to post something...

2012.05.13

Warning, at the bottom there are spoiler photos of the SKA May Mystery Sock by Rose Hiver.  So, if you are planning on joining in on the Mock, and don't want to see what it looks like, do not scroll down.  That being said...

I wanted to write a post showing the extremely cool spa wash cloths I am making.  These are a part of the Liz Marino Gift Club,  I am on the 3rd wash cloth and about half way finished with it.

The yarn is 100% organic cotton and organically dyed.  I love the colors.  The patterns are super easy of course.  Liz came up with a few pretty, simple yet rough?  nubby?  how to describe?  well the patterns are meant to make the washcloths slough off the dead skin, etc, when you wash your face.

This is a fun type of what I think the Knitmore Girls would call potato chip knitting.  It's fun and fast and hard to put down.  When I finish the last of the three that came with the club, I am definitely casting on another set of 3.  I have decided that I want to give these to my 3 sisters, and 4 sisters-in-law next Christmas, along with some really nice face wash.

It's a practical, yet decadent gift.

The other thing I have made super progress on is the Mock challenge for May for SKA (Sock Knitters Anonymous) group on Ravelry, the Chiendent Socks by Rose Hiver.  Rose Hiver is a member of SKA, and I have long enjoyed her designs.  She does not do these wild, impractical socks that look amazing but don't stay up.  Yet, her socks are always very pretty. 

I am making my socks in Turquoise Cascade Heritage Sock.  I have finished Clue 2 which included the legs and heel flaps.  So to refresh your memories,

Clue 1 was the cuffs:

Clue 2 kept the lace that goes down the center of the front and back, but changed the sides from lace to a seed stitch.

As you can see the heel flaps are pretty standard, but using ktbl instead of just k, makes that very pretty ridge a bit more distinctive.

I brought my socks to a neighborhood party on Saturday at our park, and received tons of complements, though most were for the color of the yarn.  I am trying to start a knitting group in my neighborhood, so am knitting in public whenever possible.  I want to have an adult group, and a kids' group.  More on these ideas later.

Clue 3 will be posted tomorrow, and I will get to work on the heels, and gusset, I presume.  Stay tuned for more ....

That's about all.  I do have a where in the world is f1bercat to post, but once again, I put the writing off until I was just too late to do the mapping, etc, necessary.

This week Thursday - Sunday is the Puget Sound Local Yarn Crawl.  I will be visiting 21 yarn shops in 4 days.  I will bring my camera and try to take notes, but since I will be doing all of the driving, I think it will be a lot of photos and not many notes.  It should give me (and therefore you, f1beristas) a taste of what we have to offer in the Puget Sound area.

Good night for now.

Stay safe and well.
Yours,
f1bercat
shaping the planet lots of socks and washcloths at a time

Sweater Blocking Question!

2012.05.10

I have finished the main knitting of the Red Hot Sweater for Lewk (my friend Tony who is stationed in Afghanistan).  The pattern called for the sleeves to be 22 in. long, but worried that that would not be long enough, I knit them to 24 in.  I soaked the pieces, ok, in Downy because that is what I have, on cold, rinsed., spun and blocked the front, back and both sleeves.  OMG!  the sleeves were like 23 in. and too narrow.  I think I got tighter and tighter with my knitting gauge as I went along.  I was able to block everything to the right size, but had to super stretch it all.

Even so, I am so worried that the sleeves will be too short.  I got them to 25 inches in length by super stretching them on the blocking mat.  I measured my son, L's arms (he is about 6 ft tall) and his were 26 in.  So I sent Tony a message on Facebook asking him how tall he is, because I know that arm length from fingertip to fingertip is usually your height.  Tony is 5'10" . so 2 inches shorter than L, so 25 in. should be ok.  BUT,  What about when the sweater is washed?  Will it just shrink back?  My guess is yes it will.  In which case, I need to add at least 2 more inches to the sleeve length and then somehow,. make the sleeves about 2 inches wider.

My great idea is to knit 2 strips of the same yarn, following the textured blocks pattern,. that would reach from sleeve cuff, down the arm and down the body to the waist.  I really think this would work.  It is this or reknit both sleeves...

My little cat, Beena, absolutely claimed the sweater from the minute I put it on the floor to block.

She bit me when I was putting the pins in, and chased our big cat, Muffin, away if Muffin dared to get near the sweater.

So, if anyone has advice for me, about reknitting the sleeves, knitting 2 strips, or just leaving them aggressively blocked, I would greatly appreciate it.  I want this sweater to fit.  Tony is a great guy.  I have been knitting this sweater since January.  I don't want to reknit the sleeves, but I can.

Yours,
f1bercat
shaping the planet one too small sweater at a time

2012.05.10

Coco The Cat and her Tent Dress

2012.05.07

Coco The Cat

I am making this crocheted cat, Coco The Cat, from the most recent issue (Spring?) of Crochet Today Magazine,   I checked the gauge, even though it is a toy, because the mice I made were a bit mutant in size.  I was getting close to the correct stitches/in., but not the rows/in. or height.  Oh well, it doesn't really matter, does it?  It's a toy.

So the cat came out pretty cute, though a bit short.  I am making it for my god-daughter, M, who will be 4 years old this month.  The idea in the magazine is that you make the cat, with the current clothes, and every issue for I don't know how long, there will be more clothes.

I did not buy eyes, just used French Dots.  I'm not sure I made the right choice there.  M is going to be 4 and she is the youngest of 3 kids, I doubt there will be more, so is there a chance of choking?  Probably not.  I used different yarn for the body and the clothes, though, and it shows.  I didn't have red in the same Vanna Yarn as I used for the body, so I used the One Pound of acrylic I am using to make my sons' afghans.  Bad choice.  First the gauge was a bit off, so the clothes are kind of .. Large.

I had to add a few rows where I tightened up the waistband of the bloomers so they didn't just fall down, even with the cute hole for the tail.

She was swimming in them.  They look ok now, I think.  Note the bit of lace on the bottoms of the legs.

The dress, however, is a disaster, and I will remake it.  It is super stiff (single crocheted, so too dense, and bigger yarn, so just giant size)

I think I will leave the beret (I need to add some elastic as a chin strap), and the scarf is fine.  Otherwise, I like this little cat.

There is a small bag for this outfit that I might crochet if I have time.

Where in the World is f1bercat?

Well, after last week's triumphant failure, just rode once, I am a bit more cautious.  I am writing this blog Tuesday morning, but I actually rode yesterday.  I am hoping to get to the Y MWF this week, and do 20 min. of knitting on the bike.  I think I can handle that.

However, I did ride, and it was a mere 3.68 miles in 20 minutes.   I brought the Fish Hat I am knitting for my nephew A as a wedding present, since that is simple stockinette in the round.  The wedding is at the end of June.  I have a hate/love relationship with knitting to a deadline.  I like the push, or stuff has a tendency to languish on the needles (can anyone say Great American Aran Afghan?  or poor Tony's Sweater - more on that tomorrow).  But then, OMG, I have to get the knitting finished by a certain date.  So I actually added up the inches for the hat, and figured that if I do 1 inch each day, I will be finished with the main hat knitting in 25 days.  That gives me 3 weeks to make the fins, tail and eyes,  block and weave in ends.  In my dreams, I want to have it all finished before the end of June.  So I will try to do more than 1 inch every day, and when I hit the end, rather than let it all sit, I hope I can crank out those fins.  I will feel no pressure as the wedding approaches, knowing I have finished both of the gifts in good time.

I am getting close to Portland State University.  When I get there, I will "visit" my Darling Daughter, S, and let her send me to a few of her favorite hangouts.  Unfortunately, S does not knit or crochet, though she proudly wears the Glass Slipper Socks that I made for her,








and has one of my afghans on her dorm bed.  Obviously, I love my daughter a lot.  This can be seen by the full sized afghan I made.








So, she will not be recommending any LYS's.  I will have to find those on my own.  Portland is supposed to have some wonderful yarn shops.



Before I got sick, I had knitted a total of 175.95 miles.  With the new 3.68 from yesterday I am at 179.63 miles which puts me here:


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stuck on the side of the road.  I thought I was closer to Portland... Maybe I should either knit longer tomorrow, or, get to the Y on Thursday, also.  I just don't want to jinx my riding by trying to do too much.

This is what the trip looks like so far with all of the stops:

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And here is the big map showing my progress as I head to Southern California:


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Sigh.  California is a very long state.  Oregon seems long, also.

Yours,
f1bercat
shaping the planet one cat at a time.

2012.05.07