novamade

new adventures in scarf production

I like scarves.  I think they are very useful, and sometimes they are even pretty.  And while I like the idea of making my own scarves, my laziness usually got the better of me in the endeavor of actually making them, particularly because I thought I was limited to knitting scarves.  I don't really enjoy knitting scarves, I have said it before.  But weaving a scarf?  Well, this is an entirely different matter.

   

I won't wax poetic about the process of weaving, other knitters have done so much better than I could hope to.  I will simply say that weaving a scarf takes much less time (at least in plain weave/tabby) than knitting a scarf would (unless that scarf was knitted in bulky yarn on size 17 needles, of course...well, no, probably not even then).

This scarf was simple to weave, I alternated colors in the warp (the vertical part of the weave structure) and then alternated the weft (the horizontal part).  I will put more details in the gallery of goods.

I could have just woven a test piece, but I don't like to waste  energy (some would call this efficiency--I will call it what it is, it's laziness).  Also, I figured I would either get it or I wouldn't, I think I got it.  And now Little Sir has a scarf (it's not without its imperfections; but, he is 2, he doesn't really care about the flaws, or rather, the design features).  So yes, now I am a weaver.  Much to Little Sir's chagrin.

Clearly, he is very excited about my new weaving skills. 

If you haven't figured it out yet, I tend to be the sort of person who goes "all in" on something.  I don't like to do things half way (because really, if I am going to exert the energy, I might as well make it count for something).  But with the weaving, I did test the waters with a used loom from ebay first...before I bought a Kromski Harp (Special K and I will be putting it together this weekend, one of us is very excited about it). I wanted a little more width for weaving (I am thinking wrap as opposed to blankets).  If you are interested in weaving and would like to "test the waters" on my Spear's Size 4 Rigid Heddle loom (16" width), e-mail me, we can discuss a trade of some sort.  I would love to "share the joy" as they say.

I think it's very likely that I will be weaving many more scarves.  I find weaving soothing; and, I really like scarves and I am so excited that I have found another way to make them...faster and more happily.

hats for everybody!

In the interest of starting anew in 2008, I figured I would go ahead post the last of my 2007 knitting.  Did I mention that I knit a bunch of hats?  Well, I did.  Meatheads were the hot item for Little Sir's funky bunch.  I decided to embellish with wool felt appliques.

I knit one for Little Sir first.  I needed a prototype for blindstitching the seal (cut free hand, thank you very much).  Clearly, I needed the stitching practice.

The stitching for the one for his friend CPea went a little better (and it makes me all jolly to know that CPea LOVES this hat!).

The one for his friend KB, better still.

And Mo's was the clear winner.  I almost hated to say goodbye to that polar bear (I free hand cut the polor bear too.  I have no idea how I managed it).  Truly.  I now heart blindstitch.

 

And then there was the requisite Koolhaas for Special K.  Everyone else was doing it.

I was able to use the Malabrigo that I was going to use for fingerless mitts before finding out that Special K would have no use for mitts without fingers... I think Koolhaas was the perfect pattern for the yarn.

The details for all the hats are in the 2007 gallery.  The hats (even Koolhaas) took relatively little time.  And they were pretty enjoyable knits.  All right, bring on the sweaters!

Happy New Year!  See you in 2008 with more hobbies, more projects; and, of course, there will be more pie!

obsessions, healthy and otherwise

Is it just me, or is it easy to catch a little bit of crazy without realizing it?  Just me?

So you know how I "like" (or obsess over, you pick) Pushing Daisies?  Apparently, the show has been picked up for the rest of the season.  To celebrate, I have instituted "Pie hole Wednesdays" (I know this is a Thursday post; but, the pie was made while watching Pushing Daisies...on Wednesday, as it were).  Leslie has her "cookie of the week", and so, I will have my pie...sure I am more of a cake person, but Ned is a pie maker and not a cake baker, so there you are.  First pie (which, truth be told, isn't really a pie at all)...

Chocolate Chip Pie.  Humongous chocolate chip cookie baked in a pie pan?  You betcha.  I encourage you to catch a little of the crazy and make the (pseudo) pie too, seriously (4 fork rating, people!!).

And then there is the single sock thing.  When Megan started the whole movement during the summer, my initial reaction was, "now that is a bandwagon I can hitch a ride on..."  But here is the thing...socks, they really are meant to be worn in pairs. 

My sushi sock roll post told you about the socks that I had waiting for mates and how I was going to try and finish them by the end of November (right...) .... However, I failed to mention the likely obstacles to achieving this goal (I mean real obstacles, my inherent laziness doesn't count).  So yes, one obstacle that was not addressed... a sock I had not (at the time) started.  A sock for someone else who would probably like to see the sock sooner rather than later.  Well, I started it.

I really like the pattern, horseshoe cables and eyelets...in Shibui sock yarn (which isn't pooling at all, Ashley...it's striping, in a serendipitously engaging way--given the spiraling eyelets--or am I just telling myself that?  Is it pooling in some obvious way that I am blind too?  If it is, someone please say something.).

And then, yes, there are these...

giving the people what they want

I am sure a lot of you were wondering if I finished that sweater.  Maybe you lost sleep over it?  Okay, maybe you didn't, but I certainly did.  Having stayed up till 2 or 3 in the morning for 4 days and then pulling an all-nighter on Friday, I finished it.  As I was seaming the sweater at 7 in the morning on Saturday I had this thought, "I am getting too old for this."  Well, old or not, it was finished just in time for me to get the fixings for the party ready.  Oh, did I mention that I was throwing the shower?  Yeah, I know.

There has been quite a lot said about this sweater already by countless knitters, so I am going to keep my thoughts on the knit to a minimum (scroll to end for that).  Instead, I am going to talk about why I knit this particular sweater for a child that does not belong to me.

About a year ago, my pal Al and I took our kids for a walk in the neighborhood.  It was a hot day, we were talking about my "little knitting habit" and how she wished she could knit (I offer on many occasions to teach her, so don't even start up with the "each one teach one" bit, I've tried people, I have tried).  She said the only thing she really wanted to knit was a "pretty, white or off-white, fisherman-type" sweater with really dark buttons for her daughter (then pushing 2).  It was knitwear so I filed it away.  At that point I hadn't made anything besides scarves and a few pairs of simple stockinette socks, but I knew about Trellis and thought about it, but fleetingly.

During the past year, Al and I have become even better friends than I thought possible.  I met her when we both first moved to the area almost 4 years ago.  She lives down the street, her husband works with mine (sort of), and we decided to start a book club.  And then we started doing lunch on Thursdays (it's the one day of the week I do no knitting during lunch) and it's a high point of my week.  She is hilarious, and hey, we've got to eat, right?  Usually, it takes me longer to develop friendships with people (in real life, the development of friendships here in the blogosphere, it's different, you are all kindred after all).  She (and her whole family, actually) are like family for us.  Special K and I have no family in the area so our friends really do become a support, as well as a social, network for us.  So yes, great friends.  Well, a few months ago, Al told me she was preggers again (she tried to tell me for months actually, but I didn't catch on, it became a game, "let's see if we can get Nova to figure out Al's pregnant."  For whatever reason, I thought she was being hypothetical (I can be ridiculous).  After I finally figured it out, I immediately knew what I was going to make for this new Al-baby.  Trellis.

It had occured to me to make this sweater for Little Sir, but I knew I was going to make it for Al at some point, so I held off.  But just because it's not for him doesn't mean he can't model it (he is, after all, very good friends with Al).

Al is due at the end of July with another little girl.  Well, Trellis is a fits-all-genders sweater, in my humble opinion.  It's nothing that a little pink can't fix, right?

Trellis

Pattern: Trellis by  Britta Stolfus Rueschhoff,  from Knitty

Yarn: Moda Dea Washable Wool, 2.5 skeins off-white

Needles: US 7 & 8

Notions: 5 buttons bought from the local Jo-Ann's

Modifications: I accidentally used size 8 needles for the collars (it was 5 in the morning, cut me a break)- I actually like the added heft, so hey "design feature!"

I really liked this pattern.  If you have done a few cables, you should have no problem with it. The pattern is easy to memorize and the sweater itself is really fun to knit.  It went by quicker than I thought it would. Had I knit monogamously on the sweater, for say 2 weeks, I think it would have been reasonable (but I am not a fast knitter).

I knit the 12 month size (which is why it's a wee bit on the smallish side for Little Sir who is sporting 18-24 month wear).  The 12 month size has an error for the neck shaping, I think it was on the left front side.  It's pretty obvious while you are knitting and if you use common sense, you will figure it out--something about the pattern designer telling you to do something on the right side of the sweater when you are actually starting on the wrong side, if you knit it, you'll see.  Besdies that one little thing, the pattern is very well-written.  All in all, I loved knitting this sweater, it was pretty easy, pretty quick and the seaming was not horrible at all!  I think the seaming might have been the easiest part, actually (but that could have been because it meant I was almost done and seeing the light at the end).

 

And a note about the yarn...it's awesome.  I saw the Washable Wool at the A.C. Moore big box and found it inriguing and added it to the stash.  It's really soft, "so soft it doesn't even feel like wool!" was the common observation at the shower.  I loved knitting with this stuff.  I will probably use it again for kids' knits.  I am not sure how it compares with something like Knit Picks Swish, but I felt like a got a lot of yardage for a good price.  And hey, it's superwash wool.

Al really liked the sweater, and I slept for 16 hours(!) after the party.

My pal Al with a baby that does not actually belong to her.

going the distance

...going for speed.

I am not uber slow with the knitting; but, I am not the fastest knitter either.  But nothing drives me like a deadline.

Of course Trellis can be knitted in a week.

Two sleeves, collars, blocking and seaming.  Two days?  Totally do-able.  Right?

Just one thing, anyone have any extra stitch markers?  I'm all out.

a jolly wonderful wallaby

While this Wonderful Wallaby is indeed wonderful, marvelous even, I have always liked the word jolly.  Since I kept thinking of the Jolly Green Giant while knitting this wallaby for Little Sir, I am going with that (and also, jolly just happens to be one of my favorite adjectives, I have no idea why).

This sweater took a bit longer than it really had to, it's a very easy sweater. But because I don't have the ability to knit monogamously, it seemed to take forever.  I should have gotten back to it sooner, this sweater is a nice little knitting ego boost (super easy, super quick!). The Elizabeth Zimmermann inspired pullover is another example of genius construction, truly seamless (underarm grafting aside). 

I was originally going to make a red one (Little Sir looks FABULOUS in red).  But I had all of this gorgeous green on hand, it seemed like a good idea.  I think it worked out well, clearly Little Sir thinks so.

I subbed in a seed stitch border for the ribbing because, like Ms. Frick, I just happen to like seed stitch--it's the cat's pajamas.  I also made the hood longer than suggested because Little Sir is very much a Big Sir when it comes to the size of his noggin (and his stomach for that matter).

I made the wallaby much larger than it really needed to be.  It's supposed to be for next winter, as the New England summers do not make a pullover necessary, really.  I also have come to the realization that I think my kid is larger than he actually is, the sweater is huge; but, that just means he will wear it for longer...right?

So yes, we heart the Wonderful Wallaby.  Even if we will have to handwash this one.

Wonderful Wallaby, aka Jolly

Pattern: Wonderful Wallaby

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Merino Aran, 323005 (why don't we just call it Pine Green), 4.5 balls

Needles: US 8 Bamboo Circs and dpns

Modifications: Seed stitch in for ribbing, longer hood

I love the jolliness of this particular Wonderful Wallaby, but I think the concept of the sweater is pretty spectacular.  As many who have already made it have said, I am sure I will be making this again (there is a flickr group, just for wallabies!!).  Have you made one?  If you haven't, you should.  Seriously.

koo koo for koigu

Last month was all about celebration, this month is going to be all about knitting--which really is its own sort of celebration, kind of.  Maybe a little spinning with a drop spindle will be thrown in too; but yes, back to the knitting.

Do you remember this Koigu?

I decided to use it for Pomatomus socks.  I have always liked the pattern and, though I am not usually wild about yellow, I love this yarn.  There is some serious Koigu factor going on here.

So I cast on for the first sock, got through the first repeat and thought, "I am not going to have enough yarn."  Ripped. 

Cast on, got through the first repeat by starting in the middle of the first repeat nad thought, "huh, the pattern says subtle yarnovers, my yarnovers are not so subtle."  Ripped. 

I Cast on again and thought, "surely, the not-so-subtle yarnovers are because I skipped the set up row and thus did not make a foundation for the stitch pattern."  No, not so much.  Here is the thing.  When you knit Koigu with size 2 needles, you are going to get fabric that is a little loosey-goosey (well, if you are me you will, I suppose I can't really speak for others).  Now, I could have gone with a size 1 needle, but I liked the fit of the sock knit on size 2s (what can I say, my calves and feet are shapely and not so dainty).  So loose yarnovers it is. 

After stalling obsessing pondering the pattern a bit, I just started knitting and then realized that it was 3 in the morning.  That is the power of Koigu (are you Kookoo for Koigu too?).  In order to maintain a sense of sanity, I had to put it away for awhile. (And I still don't know if I will have enough yarn...I am living on the wild side here...and the power of Koigu compels me.)

And because actually finishing garments is a useful thing, I went back to Little Sir's sweater, because as Diana pointed out, it's been a while since we saw the kid in handknits (of his own--Chevron scarves don't count).

It's thisclose to being done.

This post would be a Project Spectrum parade...if it weren't the first day of June.

I hope you all have fabulous weekends!

post-chevy obsessiveness

I was so dedicated to finishing the second Chevron scarf that I let some other projects fall by the wayside.  I don't have as many works in progress as some, but there is at least one sweater for Little Sir that I would like to wrap up.  And then there is this, my newest obsessive knit:

I started this ages ago, but because of my inability to read the pattern properly, I had to rip and start over (if you are doing a left twist --at least for Trellis-- don't forget to knit in the backs of the loops when knitting two together...just some advice from me to you).  This is a gift for a friend of mine.  I have till the 16th of June to finish it.  If I was a monogamous knitter that would be possible--easy even; but monogamy in crafts has never worked for me...especially with stuff like this lying around:

How am I to resist the call of Koigu?  Koigu is so obsession inducing, I can't fight the power.  And this Koigu is so Project Spectrum.  I was tempted to knit simple but fun toe-up socks, but I wonder if I have enough yardage to do these...

And then there is my newest addiction.  Do you remember that "learn to spin" kit a got at MDSW?  Well, I worked through the freebie roving in the bag

While it may not be all glamorous and beautiful to you, I am ridiculously giddy and impressed with myself.  Special K was really impressed too (I think he was more impressed with my make-shift lazy Kate--which we are now calling the "Lazy Nova"  which is so extraordinarily appropriate, it's a little sad).

So yes, this spindling thing, in case you didn't know, it's as addicting as knitting. I just ordered a new featherweight spindle from the Goldings (I love them, go order a spindle and give them some of your money so I don't feel compelled to give them all of mine) to try spinning some lace weight that I will try and knit a shawl from for the Spun Stitches KAL, I figured it would be a nice summer challenge for myself; because as lazy as I am, I still like a challenge. 

It's a little scary how one obsession ends and another or others begin.  Scary; but fun.  What about you, obsess much?

not the jet set

I had such great hopes for this yarn.

I thought these skeins were going to be perfect for their intended purpose, especially after I wound them up.

 

But no.

So now I am trying to figure out other options.

Decisions, decisions...similar; but different.

And lest you think that all I do is think about Chevron Scarves, let me show you this little piece of wonderfulness.

And there are a pair of socks, that are as good as done, to be finished up this weekend.  I don't have anything planned for this weekend besides a haircut (badly needed) and rediscovering my domestic side (in regards to the cleanliness of my home--also badly needed), so I should have time to get some toe grafting done, at the very least.  I hope your weekends allow for knitting, quilting, or whatever other happiness you have planned.
 

starting small

As we packed our car for the drive up to Vermont on Friday I grabbed Little Sir's hat that I made a few months back.  I figured, Vermont=cold, cold=hat, right?  The only problem?  The cute hat was way too small.  Somewhere in the past four months, Little Sir's noggin got really big (like the rest of him, I guess).  So I grabbed that random ball of Cashmerino Aran from the Project Spectrum resource stash and knit the kid another hat.

It's just another simple basic hat using Ann Budd's great template-y book, the only reservation I had was the length of the hat, I think it a little longish, but that's okay.  The hat serves its purpose, it keeps the kid's head, ears and forehead warm, which really was the point. 

He didn't have it to sport about town while in Vermont (which was fabulous, by the way; if you are looking for a good place to knit in southern Vermont visit the good people at Nutmeg  Country Inn in Wilmington, Gerry and Sue will treat you right (and best of all they feed you the best of all possible breakfasts to get you started for a long day of skiing or knitting or whatever else you can think of); but since I finished the hat on the way back home yesterday Little Sir was able to wear it to school this morning.

While in Vermont I made a few yarn purchases, nothing ridiculous, just a few things that called out to me in persuasive hushed tones, you know how it is.  I went to a farm that sells handspun yarn and bought two skeins of fingering weight merino, it's soft and luscious and smells like nature itself.  I also visited a local yarn shop in Wilmington which is still in the process of being set up.  I originally went in thinking, "oh, I can get some other shade of Cashmerino to make a hat of stripey goodness for Little Sir (a la Ashley's hat for Isaiah), but no luck on that front, there was no Cashmerino to be found...but there was plenty of Koigu and Rowan Yorkshire Aran Tweed 4-ply (on sale even, you know it's been discontinued, snap it up when you can).  The colors are bright and shocking and totally not me, but we all need to mix things up some times.  I will share the outrageousness of color in the not too distant future, I wouldn't want to shock you too much.  So instead I leave you with a small touch of gray, which is quite kid friendly, if you think about it.

Basic Toddler Hat

Pattern: from Ann Budd's A Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran, 1 skein (I had 8 inches of yarn left)

Needles: Bamboo DPNs, US 5

Modifications:  None, just followed the template for the appropriate size and style

A very simple knit.  This took less than four hours to knit, it could have taken less time if I had not unnecessarily knit the prescribed length for the crown, like I said, a bit longish.  Sometimes you need to be careful with the Budd book, use your best judgement--be the boss of your knitting, and all that.