Monday, January 29, 2018

Bless me Blogger, for I have sinned.

It has been four years since my last confession. 
    How does this work again?  Blogger looks almost like a word processor now.  That's to the better.
      I'm not capable of playing catch-up all at once.  I have knit a LOT of things and finished a few.  I have pictures on different devices, which are not necessarily this device.
      Okay, not this device.  I'll get back to you.  Promise.

Click➔ Interlude and Sing-Along  

Hats for Cold Heads
   I realized something one day when dear ol' FOIKTIB (Friend of I Knit Therefore I Blog), Sue, got upset because she thought I was going to present her a knitted object.  She thinks that means she has to do the same for me.  My response to that was a loud, What the Hell Else am I supposed to do with all this shit I'm knitting?*  I don't always feel that way, but it happens sometimes that when I give myself a project to knit for a special occasion it starts out fun, but gets to be a chore and an obligation.  So most of the stuff I knit is for no good reason, outside of socks. And inside of a sock, it's too dark to read.  I generally enjoy my knitting more if it's an impulse, rather than compulsory.  I don't wear hats, but I knit them.

        Here is a finished object that currently rides around with me in a Mo's Irish Pub bag in my car.  Sometimes when I find somebody asking for change I ask the person if he or she would like a warm hat.  Sometimes they do.  If there is time, they get to choose.  The last time, was in a strip mall.  I wasn't going to ask because the guy already had a hat, but I reconsidered since we weren't in traffic.  The guy chose 3 for  people he knew.  After I came out of the dollar store, he told me where to come to find a couple of homeless families after dark.  So that was nice.  
This hat was not one he chose.   

Pattern: Advanced Beanie by Gralina Frie
Yarn: 220 Superwash Aran.  It is very soft and squishy, though a touch slippery to work 
    The Advance Beanie is bottom up  It has crown shaping that was new to me.  There are 3 rows between every decrease row.  That gives you a lot of room to play with stitch patterns, but every decrease row is a doozie.  In this case, they are 14 stitches each.  I have used it successfully on another hat.  Give a look-see.  The pattern is free.  Thank you Gralina Frie!
    I usually prefer top down hats and toe-up socks, for two reasons.  One reason is that cast-ons have a big number of stitches. I keep loosing count, so I have to keep starting over.  The next reason is that I tended to cast on too tightly.  Did you notice the past tense?  Tended.  Recently, Laura, another FOIKTIB, taught me how to cast on loosely using the plain old long tail method.   So I am 50% more confident with bottom up hats.  There is no help for the counting problems.

   **I will be swearing more often on the blog, now that I am not teaching children anymore.  (Woo F**n' Hoo!)


Thursday, July 04, 2013

Star Hats

I've knit a whole lot of stuff since last I blogged.  I've even a completed some.  Here are the ones I've photographed.  These are hats for Camp Happy Times. (Good video.)  Camp Happy Times brings kids ages 5 to 21 years old together.  The kids all have, or have had, cancer.  One special memory is camp hats.  There is a new theme for the hats every summer.  This year's theme is Stars.  All the hats are made (sewn, knit, crocheted) by volunteers.  Each camper can choose 2 caps, one themed and one unthemed.  Here are the ones I'm sending along.  It's not too late.  They can accept hats up to July 15, 2013.   

Camp Happy Times Campaign
Halos of Hope
P.O. Box 1998
Arlington Heights, IL 60006-1998


 Hat one:  Comet Crossing the Moon Hat: 2 strands superwash fingering weight held together.  Dale Baby Ull and Lanett.  Crewel work, various washable yarns.  Size large.
 
Hat two:  Stripes and Stars Hat:  Regia Crazy Colors 6-ply superwash, Glittery fabric glue star at peak, polar fleece stars appliqued with gold Sulky machine embroidery thread.  I think it's mylar.  Size medium.
 
Hat three:  Sun Hat:  Picture does not do this justice--couldn't capture how it glows.  Various fingering yarns and unplied worsteds, held double, all superwash wool.  Size small-medium.
 
 Hat four: This is OPK (Other People's Knitting).  This is Terri Minkin's unthemed contribution.  Washable acrylic.  Sizes small to large.  Super stretchy and soft.

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Parquet

Rhythmic
I finally published the drop stitch scarf/shawl pattern that I've been designing off and on for at least a couple of years.  It turned out really well, even better than I had hoped, actually.  It's fun to knit, it's not complicated, it can use just about any yarn or needle, it makes a nice scarf or a nice stole.  It can be sophisticated or rustic, blocked or free-form. 


It's a good summer project.

Here is a link to the Ravelry pattern page:  Parquet

Elegant
Rustic

Floaty



Textured

 
 
You can use bigger yarn and needles and make a shawl.
DiVe Autumno--unblocked
 Parquet


Proud Mumma, that's me.


Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Young Yarnie



 
My friends' daugher Layla at 19 months showing some yarn love.  I hope it lasts. 

Monday, May 20, 2013

Cross Your Fingers

The Problem

The Solution?