novamade

i'm all about productivity

So right about now, you are probably wondering if I actually finish anything.  So to prove that I do, I thought I should show some proof of productivity.

I knit these fingerless mitts (Evangelines) in no time at all, but then I let the ends (all 8 of them for the set) derail the finishing. 

I know, it's kind of ridiculous.  In any case, while procrastinating the tomten, I finished them.  I think they are pretty fantastic, I hope the recipient does too.  I will pop the details in the gallery.

The mitts were knit in Andy's Merino (that's the name of the wool source) from Farmhouse Yarns .  I love Farmhouse Yarns, the colors are phenomenal.

So, I am on vacation right now, spring break, as it were.  I don't have internet accessibility in my room, I have not yet decided whether this is a blessing or a curse; but, I was able to post this, so I should still be able to share some pie and another fo on Wednesday.  Because, you know, I am all about pie (and apparently, finished objects).

mittenish

Thanks again for all the mitten love.  It's no secret that I love the mitts, I am glad you guys think they're snazzy too.  Knitting Anemoi has given me a true appreciation for mittens and knitting them.  I still don't think they are as practical as gloves, but they're pretty.  So instead of casting on for a pair of socks (you know, for a portable project) I started looking at patterns for mittens.  I was still feeling awfully puffed up with pride after my success with Anemoi when I cast on for these:

                                                                      

pride goes before a fall...

These cabled cuffs are the start of  Marcia Lewandowski's Aran Island Mittens.  I thought the pattern was interesting (even if there are bobbles that could have easily been left out); but, perhaps it's too interesting for me.  It took me longer than was reasonable to figure out the tree of life stitching detail.  My early efforts were spotty and there was quite a lot of ripping, finally I just went with what I had.  Stitching on the left mitten's lower left palm leaves much to be desired; but that's okay.  These mittens were originally intended as a gift for someone (yes, I know, back to the gift knitting); but, now I'm not sure what fate waits for these mittens.  We'll have to see what the finished product looks like, but I don't have high hopes for this project at the moment.

On a completely different topic, how many of you are solitary knitters as opposed to group knitters?  I tried knitting in groups before, in the early days through "meet up" groups, the only clicking that happened was from the knitting needles, and I sort of discovered the beauty of knitting alone while listening to audio goodness or watching television (which inevitably causes the loss of brain cells, so why not?).  I think I do okay knitting on my own, but I have started knitting with a group at work. 

While I was at a local yarn shop a co-worker who works very far from the library on campus told me about a knitting group that meets in the cafe of the library to knit during lunch once a week.  Well, first she asked if I was a knitter (which seemed like a ridiculous question to ask someone standing in line with an obscene amount of yarn, magazines and needles--I do what I can to help the local shops stay afloat).  So today will be my second session of knitting with this group of random librarians, professors, graphics designers and a coach from the athletic department.  While knitting last week, we drew the attention of some students, so we may see a few of them today.  I think I kind of like it.  It's an odd experience though because I just sort of assume that all knitters know about things like 1) knit blogs, 2) Knit Picks and Elann and 3) Koigu. It's a strange feeling to be looked at as some sort of knitting wunderkind because I know where to buy cashmere blends for a steal.  For the most part I knit thinking "my friends, have you not heard about this wonderful thing called the internet?!" But I don't ask.  I am just considering it a new mission to help these people spend as much money as I do on yarn, purely for there own edification, of course.  I haven't mentioned my knit blog to them, I don't feel like I know them well enough (funny, right?).

And just because I like it, here is a picture of some flowers that make me feel like spring is right around the corner even if there is snow piled up outside my window.

the fine art of knitting for one’s self

There is no shortage of Anemoi Mittens in the knitblogging community.  I have seen many pairs in various states of production.  My Anemois are done, and I couldn’t be happier.

Like many who have knitted this pattern, I too love it.  I love the pattern (and though I don’t actually know her personally, I think I might love Eunny for writing the pattern), I love the yarn I used, and I love the finished mittens.

Lest you think that I should have titled this post “mitten love,” I will tell you one more thing I love about these mittens:  I love that they are mine.  I have been a knitter for a little over two years now and since I picked up the sticks I have never knit a thing for myself.  No, nothing.   Maybe you are sitting there thinking, “what a crock, what about your first project?!”  No.  My first project was a garter stitch scarf made on size 19 needles with LB Homespun, you know the one, the pattern is on the ball band; I was so impressed with how it came out, I obviously couldn’t keep it for myself, it had to be given away.  At least the person I gave it to still wears it, all the time as a matter of fact—I need to knit her something else so she can graduate up to some wool or something, but that’s another post for another time. 

As I was saying, no knitting goods for me…you see, the idea never occurred to me.  Sure, I marked patterns and made mental notes of the things that I wouldn’t mind knitting for my own personal use or wear, but if it was an accessory or something-of-the-like it went to someone else if it came out half way decent (and trust me, when “half-way decent” is your benchmark, you can achieve success quite easily).  In truth, to combat this giving away of the goods I started knitting a sweater for myself (Arwen, what?) thinking, “well, if it’s made with my measurements in mind, then obviously I will keep it…” and then I let knitting for others get in the way of my finishing it, because “it’s just for me, I can wait…”  But then there were these mittens, these Anemois mittens with beautifully curved scrolls reminiscent of Kelmscottian design. 

The special collections librarian in me that deals with rare books, of course, loves that detail.  So I got the pattern thinking that this would be the knit, for me, that I would get around to some day.  Perhaps it was Project Spectrum, or maybe it was my tiring of the cables in Arwen, but “some day” happened a lot sooner than I expected.  And I must say, this knitting for one’s self, it’s the cat’s pajamas (yes, I really do say cat's pajamas--yes, I know).

There are a some who dub knitting for one’s self as “selfish knitting,”  I never thought of it this way when I was doing all that knitting for others, or “gift knitting” if you wish, it just never really occurred to me to knit something for myself at the time.  But now, I have all sorts of crazy plans…but there will still be the knitting for others, because I am a giver (it gives me some sort of weird high,  I really like doing things for other people, it's a compulsion).  But, really a knitter knitting for the sake of producing personal goods, that’s not selfish at all.

I think there is a certain art to knitting for one’s self.  Pattern selection, is perhaps, the key to success, maybe this doesn’t apply to small things or accoutrement; but, with sweaters, it’s nice to know in advance that just because it looks good on that red head in Interweave Knits, there’s no guarantee it will look half as good on you.   So maybe that’s what scared me off of Arwen, because honestly, I am having my doubts about how it’s going to fit me, but mittens, they are a safe bet.  And well, these mittens?  Well, of course they will look good, and of course they are totally worth the effort, and of course I should keep them.

Another part of the “art” involved in knitting goodness for me was not obsessing over small details.  When I knit for others I usually obsess about the knitting (because to be truthful, I obsess over things in general), while knitting these mittens, I made it a point to enjoy the knitting, every moment of it.  I enjoyed knitting the Anemois so much when I noticed mistakes two are three rows back (as I did many times) I had no problems ripping back and re-knitting.  “Oh, rip back and have the opportunity to prolong the knitting of this Koigu fabulousness in this gorgeous pattern?  Yes, please.”  There are a few things that could have been improved, there is a “wobbly” stitch here and there; but, I can see the forest from the trees—I just don’t care.  And if I don’t care, then no one else should.

The last “art” I am going to mention is that of use.  Some of you may think that there is no art to using knit items, but I think there is art in all sorts of things, my friends.  For me it would be very easy to not use these mittens because of the work I put into them and the possibility that I could lose one (because, as you may remember, I love them).  And then there is the very likely possibility of getting them dirty…with things like baby drool …

But if they don’t get used, they wouldn't live up to their functional purpose, and what possible good would that serve?  And though I don’t like to draw attention to myself, for the most part (I mean, I do have a blog after all), I want people to see my mittens and tell me how great they are, because I LOVE them, and the recognition of their greatness gives my mitten love all sorts of validity.

So if you aren’t already doing so, go knit something for yourself.  You know you’re worth it.

Anemoi Mittens

Pattern: by Eunny Jang

Yarn:Koigu (love), 1 skein each of off-white (0000) and medium blue (sorry, I have no idea about the color code/dye lot)

Needles: Aluminum US 2s, Bates?  Boyes?  I have no idea, they were fast and smooth.

Modifications:  Just one, I knit the cuffs on 2s instead of the prescribed 0s.  With the 0s I kept getting a cuff that Special K “thought was the start of a baby sock…” 

a hitchhiker's guide

When hitching a ride to an aquarium for an afternoon of fun, here are some things to remember:

• Potential drivers like pleasant-faced people.  No one finds a scary face attactive, it's just scary.

• If your mittens are thumbless, your thumbs will be cold.

• Visiting the outdoor park area of the aquarium is not such a great idea if the area has just had a major freeze.

• Fish can be pretty cool.

• But penguins tend to be much cooler.

• Penguins might be the coolest thing ever.  Just go see the penguins first.

• Finish knitting thumbs onto your mittens prior to hitching.  Seriously.

in repose

As always, there is knitting going on; but it's happening in a rather slow unhurried manner.  I take great pleasure in knitting anything; but, these mittens have taken me to a new plane of knitting bliss, seriously. 

I am enjoying every second of knitting on these mittens.  I have had to rip back and re-knit a few rows because of my inability to keep track of which row I am knitting every now and then, no matter.  I have found that with Koigu even tinking and ripping can be somewhat pleasant.  I am actually drawing out the process to further my enjoyment I think, because these mittens could, in fact, be a very quick knit.

I hope there are good weekends all around, particularly for those with long weekends (lucky you!).  Little Sir will get to experience the wonder of aquatic life for the first time tomorrow.  It will either freak him out royally, or leave him awestruck.  I am hoping for the latter as the former might involve screeching.  Happy weekend!