It's late September and I really should be back in school...
I asked my husband what song I should use for this entry, and he said, "Something by Rod Stewart." We ARE sleep deprived. He'd never suggest Rod otherwise.
All Knitting! Knitknitknit!
Look at this!
Finally, Bridie is done. It took 14 weeks to make the final band and sew on buttons, but done it is.
Pattern: by the fabulous Anna, soon I think in a book so no longer available to buy singly. I am glad I bought it when I did!
Needles: US 6, my first time with Rosewood circular needles. I like 'em!
Yarn: Karabella Margrite. Gorgeous.
Here's some more pics. I'm pretty pleased.
Better run. Things remain difficult with the Bug. Forty-five minute naps suck. Breastfeeding every two hours sucks. Reflux sucks. And let me tell you, colic REALLY SUCKS.
But!
Smiling rocks. So we are making progress. ;-)
For those trying to leave comments, but can't, I am sorry! I'll get my technical guru on it.
Ha Ha Ha Bless your soul...
I can't stop digging that song. Even if it's overplayed.
Are you having a baby?
That is SO WEIRD. People now ask me that all the time.
My guess would be that they ALREADY know the answer to that question. My guess is, if they weren't sure, they wouldn't ask. What would they do if I said, "No"? "It's an 8 pound tumor"?
I mean really. Sometimes I should say "no" just for fun, to screw with people.
Dejection. And despair.
So lately, as mentioned in my last post, I'm not feeling the knitting love. I'm just, frankly, disinterested in it. Part of it is reading blogs - I get frustrated with how fast other people knit, or how beautifully or evenly they knit, and I get disgusted that I have been doing this for 20 some years and still have uneven or crappy work to show for it. Why is this so?
The smart hubby suggested maybe I need to go back to basics. Maybe I need to just knit scarves or something, to practice garter stitch over and over to get better at it. My tension issues make me so frustrated.
So, with Bridie, I was fairly happy so fair and have seamed the whole thing, but in knitting the buttonbands I have been VERY unhappy. So much so, that I don't want to finish it now. I don't even want to show it.
But I will:
You have to sew the band on as you go, to be sure it will fit:
And here's another view so far:
I know. Not the end of the world, but to me it's just, well, wonky.
Elizabeth Zimmerman says it's far better to knit loosely and a little wonky than too tightly. That the wonkiness will work itself out. And, admittedly, after I wear something awhile I seem to stop noticing it. But I just want, well, perfection, I guess. What do you all think? Do you have these issues???
Maybe the HE Hubby is on to something. Maybe I need to sell a bunch of stash and just knit with yarn that truly pleases me, that feels great on the needles, with simple stitches for practice. I'm open to it. Tell me what you all think.
He was chrome... and he said, "Commmmee with me..."
A true Wilco fan is my husband. So much so, that here was his Halloween costume:
I unfortunately had to work the 2pm - 11pm shift. I met up with Carrie and Jacob and crew after for a bit, but didn't have the energy, high or otherwise, to dress up.
Speaking of High Energy - Carrie had a funny story. She helped her bandmates make these awesome Alice in Wonderland costumes. When she brought her sewing machine to help, she realized that typical of most boys they had waited till the last minute to get them done. When she said, "You guys, this might be a lot of work," the guys threatened to call "ELECTRIC JENNY."
Hahahhahaha! Electric. Jenny.
Why aren't you blogging?
I'm been so busy! I know, I know, we're all busy, but others of us find time to blog. Somehow I'm not finding the time!
And then, see, I let it all build up, then I have so much to say that I'm overwhelmed, then I just don't. Stupid, I guess. I need to be better about blogging shorter posts more often. Hmmmm.
Some things I should tell you:
1) I've really been enjoying old episodes of Cast On. I think Brenda Dayne is a genius. I love listening to that show while I knit.
2) I've been watching too much TV. Damn you Directv!
3) I finally got all our crazy house stuff done. Mostly. The baby's room is still in progress, of course, but all the other shelves, etc. are done. I just have a few hooks to hang and curtains to make for downstairs. Otherwise, whew!
So that's all good.
Knitting-wise, I wish I had more to report. I am about 1/3 done with the front of HE John's Phildar sweater. It looks the same as the back, so a picture really doesn't tell you much.
Bridie is almost done, but I am having issues with the neckband.
Also I don't think I can wear it, even though I tried to size it for me now - I hoped the belly part could hang open with the top closed but it doesn't look promising. I am a little sad. And I really was hoping I could make the neck/button band look more professional. Sigh. I will show you more of it soon.
Lastly, HE John has made his first batch of beer!
He loves beer, of all types, and he has a lot of opinions about good beers, what types of beer is good for what weather, etc. So it doesn't surprise me he wanted to make some.
I got to cap the bottles. That was fun! In about two weeks they'll be ready!
I hope he likes what it tastes like when they are done.
Take one down, pass it around...
Science or God will save us...
That's from an Atlanta group called the Lindsay Rakers Band. You can listen to them here. I hope to see them soon, they are playing here Wed night but I unfortuntately have to work.
Sorry it's been so long, you guys! I think of things to blog everyday. But then I balance the checkbook, or some other menial task, and it just doesn't happen.
Also it could be that:
1) I have to study a year's worth of articles before the baby.
2) We are painting two closets and installing closet systems in them. Our clothes are in boxes in the front room. FUN. TIMES.
3) We are having the basement tiled, painted, and shelves installed next week. Which involves cleaning out the basement and getting rid of stuff, and organizing. And preparing. And having old furniture hauled away.
4) We are registering and buying baby stuff. So far, a carseat, a crib, mattress, changing table. This baby is EXPENSIVE. I'll remind him when he's bad.
5) We are trying to budget for a nanny. Including the fact that I don't get paid during the two months I take off after the baby, this is causing me a WEE bit of stress. No new yarn for awhile.
You get the idea. It's crazy, but I know if I don't organize BEFORE the baby, it won't happen for like 10 years. So here we are.
And, my Directv died, AS DID Carrie's ON THE SAME NIGHT. We think they downloaded software and it fried our DVRs. At Fedex just a few days later there was a guy there returning his "R15" as well. I think they screwed up BIG. It's fixed now, but it dumped all my programs. Which makes me GRUMPY!
Cure for Grumpiness? Cables.
During my like two hour phone call with Directv, I did this:
This is a swatch for my next project, the "Cabled Jacket" from Debbie Bliss's Cashmerino DK book. Here's the sweater:
It really helped calm me down while dealing with the Directv people. I only swore at little, and I didn't yell at anyone. That's pretty good for me.
Bridie!
And Bridie, she is coming along nicely. Here's the left front:
And then I decided to do something HERETOFORE never done in HEK. Knit both sleeves at the same time:
Unfortunately, this lasted only for this picture. The balls kept getting tangled, and I hated it. So it's one at a time for us here. Since these pictures, I have finished one sleeve. HOORAY!!!
Husband Swecker.
I have the back done of the Phildar sweater for me hubbie:
That's the best pic so far but trust me, it's done. I knitted like crazy while we were camping a few weekends ago, and in the car. That sweater is LONG. Long long long. I really want to finish this and Bridie before the baby. I have three months. Think I can do it????
Would you do it?
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah...
We saw the Flaming Lips last week in Atlanta, and boy are they so awesome! We've seen them before, and I love them so much. It was SO LOUD. I hope the HE Fetus can still hear.
Oh my goodness. LOTS of knitting happening. And it's WORKING right now, which is so fun and exciting.
BRIDIE. I love this pattern. Anna is a genius. Let's talk about it, shall we?
First, I LOVE the yarn. I'm using the suggested yarn, Karabella Margrite, and it's so soft and awesome. I love it.
I have learned the pattern now, so it's pretty quick to not have to use the chart. The shaping is genius.
My row gauge was off, and this concerned me, because as a certain rabbit noted, if you need more rows per inch then the pattern recommends, you can easily run out of yarn. I was afraid of this, so what I did was knit on the back, then I BLOCKED IT with an iron ON THE NEEDLES. What???
And the gauge became perfect, and the knitting so smooth. I am in love. Let's check it out:
Look, you can see the line where I had blocked up to - isn't that crazy??? A huge difference.
So what I'm doing is calculating the math of how many rows I need to get that gauge when blocked. It's working like a charm. And the knitting goes faster, because I'm marking off rows.
Now, the right front:
I had an in-progress picture, but since then I have finished it! Here's the top of it, with the interesting shape:
And here's a close-up of the increasing shaping:
Now, the thing about that shaping is that you increase every row. If you haven't done that before, it's really hard to do, because when you increase, you are often using the row below in some way. If you do a Make 1, you are pulling the yarn between stitches on the row below. If you use a lifted increase, you are also distorting the row below. So if you do that every row, it's hard to get it to not distort the pattern too much. (Here's a web page with videos of different increases.)
Anna, who is amazing, did it with M1s. I never could get that to work, so I used variations of "knit one through the front and back loop" (KF&B) on the neck edge. Sometimes I would knit in the front loop and purl in the back, or vice versa, to keep the pattern. I think it worked pretty well, and the edge will be sewn into the buttonband. Hooray!
And the left front, which I am starting, is smaller than the right, since it fits that shape like a puzzle piece, so it should be quick. I want to finish this soon so I can wear it!
Husband Swecker.
HE John and I have stupid words for things and always distort our language when we talk. Sometimes it can be so cryptic and weird and refers to things only we know or have laughed about that I swear if someone heard us they could NOT understand what we are saying. I'm sure all couples do this. After 14 years, I guess that happens.
For example, we call sweaters "sweckers", and Atlanta "Aklanka", and Sacramento "Saclamento." And laundry detergent "laungry detergalent" and Natalie Merchant "Nagalie Mergalent." And other stupid things.
I have had yarn and pattern to make Johnny a swecker for awhile, and I have finally cast on. It's taking FOREVER, partly cause it is all ribbing and LONG. Snore...
And a close-up of the variegatedness:
This is a Phildar sweater, and Becky made it already for her hubby, and it turned out great. Seeing a real guy wear it, not some model, allowed it to be given the HE Johnny seal-of-approval. Here is Becky's archive about her version. If I recall, it took her many a DVD to get it finished. I forsee that...
Well, friends, I must go. I have a lot of studying to do, as I am trying to finished two years of Continuing Education before the baby is born, so I don't have to do it next year. Hate. Studying. Grrr.
Kicky McKickerton
Well, recently I was lamenting that I was worried I wasn't feeling the baby move yet.
Hahahahahaha! Now he moves all the time, and it feels REALLY WEIRD. Of course I'm glad he's moving. But I will admit it is really disconcerting! Like weird gas that stays in the same place and repeatedly rises up - it's so weird! It woke me up the other day!
A FO! A Sister! The Atlanta Braves!
High Energy Sister came up and we had a fun time. And I was so pleased to see that her Green Gable fit!!!
And a close up:
And a close-up of the decreases and increases...
I used Cotton Fleece, size US 6 needles. I made the small/second size. I also, like Carrie, added hip increases which I think made the fit just perfect.
The increases were the only modification. I added back the 8 stitches over two increase rows that were initially decreased after the bust, then two more rounds for a total of 16.
I love to knit for my sister because:
1) She's SMALL. Unlike knitting for my husband (I have started a sweater for him. LORD it's taking a long time).
2) She's the perfect size/proportions. Everything looks good on her, and almost anything fits her well.
3) She wears what I make her. Yay!
So good times for Green Gable.
And we had good times at a Braves game while she was here! And they won, which hasn't happened much lately, so we were excited!
They have a HUGE jumbotron at Turner Field. I was really far away from this and DIDN'T zoom. Look how big Francoeur's head is!
What's new, pussycat?
I started Bridie and am knitting like crazy on it. Here's the back:
Wanna see a close-up?
Some interesting things to tell you next time about this sweater. I am loving the pattern so far!
But maybe everything that dies someday comes back
Put your makeup on, fix your hair up pretty
and meet me tonight in Atlantic City...
Hello! We are back from Jersey, where I had SO MUCH FUN visiting Cara!
Cara is such a fun person, and her husband and sister are awesome too. I had a really great time and am so glad I went.
Things I learned on my trip to Jersey/NY:
1) Cara walks really fast. I pride myself on being a fast walker - I can't stand people who walk slow especially when they are "in my way". But now that I'm carrying extra weight, I almost could not keep up with her! And I love that.
2) The 10-second rule does not apply to NY city streets.
3) If the band for the top of your knee high sock can fit around your head -
It's too big.
4) Ferries are fun!
And look! The Statue of Liberty!
5) I can spin! Ok, not well, but I did it. Cara's a good teacher.
And here's my handspun:
It's not beautiful, I make much prettier yarn on a spindle, but it's only the second time I have done it. I can't wait to get a wheel!
6) NYC is really big, but they have the tiniest. bathroom. ever.
I'm standing in front of the toilet here.
Hardly room for a pregnant woman, I assure you.
7) If you put me in a yarn shop, I will buy yarn:
Here's some Habu Bamboo I got, gorgeous and so soft. I'm going to have a real dyer dye it for me.
And here's a pic of the front room at Habu, where they make such beautiful stuff!
8) If Cara has a STASH SALE, I will buy yarn. BTW, go over and see what she has left!
I got the following - some Firesong yarn:
and some angora for a tiny blanket for a tiny high energy person.
9) I can finish a sweater on a trip if I knit hard and fast:
My sister comes up this weekend, and then I'll have pictures of her wearing it, yay!
10) Cara can twist my arm into starting a pair of knee highs:
Koigu. These are gonna be GOOD. Even if I do have fat calves.
Knitting update:
Lastly, an update. Peaches is rockin' right along:
But Bridie had a snafu:
Looks okay, huh? Well, it's way too big. Despite checking gauge, I'm getting 19 st instead of 22 to 4", which of course will never fly. Had to rip those 6 inches of sweater out. SO. SAD. But after a knit fest last night I am almost back to where I was.
Hope you all have a good week!
With a burning love inside...
That Spinner's song was playing in the Dunkin' Donuts where I recently had a cheese and sausage biscuit! YUM. In fact, I had two. One for the High Energy Fetus.
WARNING. Lot going on in this post. Just scroll fast to see pictures. ;-)
Preggers Update
Well, all seems well so far. I think I felt the baby move, it was a weird motion like something swimming in my belly. Maybe I made it up. I'm waiting for the real thing.
I get pretty tired easily these days. I cleaned the house tonight and only got halfway through before I was exhausted. This was WITH High Energy John's help. I just finished, and now I want to sleep for 14 hours...
I had a minor fender bender too, (all is fine with the baby, family, don't freak out) just when I had thought, "I'm so glad I haven't had a car wreck while I'm pregnant."
Other than that, all seems well. Here's an 18 week ultrasound shot - just a baby foot. Awwww....
SO. MUCH. ELSE.
Alot is going on around here otherwise. I finished all the squares for a quilt for my niece. It's only taken THREE YEARS. Oh Lord. They are butterflies.
Excuse the post-its. It was hard enough to get on the floor to put them on.
Also, I swatched for Bridie, about which I am VERY excited.
My stitch gauge is on, my row gauge as usual is off, but the pattern looks like it will be okay row-gauge wise. We shall see.
Overall it drives me crazy when I use the yarn the pattern calls for, and the stitch gauge is right, but my row gauge is off. But it happens ALL THE TIME. So now I just work around it. I'd like a good explanation for why this is so, someday.
Elspeth!!!
And I have finished Elspeth!
But first, go look at my buddy Elspeth's AMAZING gorgeous Rowan Butterfly dress. Go look, I'll wait.
Wow.
And now, here's my Elspeth, finally. Pictures by the fabulous Carrie.
And the back:
And a close-up:
Pattern Notes
Rowan Calmer, 4 skeins even though it called for 5. I modified the sleeves by doing the short rows, then knitting an inch, then continuing on, because I wanted them longer.
Also, I used Nona's excellent Left Slanted decrease on the sleeves and am very happy with it. I wish I had found that post for the body and fronts, but at least the sleeves benefitted.
What else? I had to re-crochet the picot edge only once. I had read on other blogs that it was easy to be too loose, and it flared. So after the first time, I would skip a dc each time in the picot and it was much better. Email me if you want this specifically explained.
Lastly, a ridiculous 19 1/2 week belly shot:
Hi. I'm ridiculous.
ALRIGHTY THEN! I'm off to the land of Bon Jovi and Bruce, to hang out with someone much cooler (even than Bruce). ;-) See you after!