No Hair Day Red Hat Society

Finished another fuzzy chemo hat last night. I must say, it is magnificent. Lavender yarn with a red eyelash this time – perfect for those Red Hat days we all need so much. I figure ladies on chemo must like the red hat thing too, right? This one is very soft, much nicer than the other two for some reason.

I hope it makes her laugh, she’s gonna look like a giant dandelion.

Gee, I hope the No Hair Hat design is a hit. I’m not going to make another until I know for sure though.

See more progress on: make 43 'chemo caps'

Chemo Caps

I have found a rededication to chemo caps. I finished this one the night before I left to go to a family reunion on Friday and started another in the car. It felt good.

I got off track for a while, making things for other charities, making other projects for my family at Christmas. I shopped for new yarn with my own projects in mind. Tackling new skills on my list of knitting things to do. Stitches East is on the way and I signed up for four classes. I forgot why I started this knitting thing in the first place. By far, the chemo hat is the most satisfying for me.

I need to always be working on one.

For John.

Goodbye

I bid a non-tearful farewell to my Knit for Kids "foreversweater" today at the Post Office Drive Thru. Less than five bucks and it's off to New York state for distribution. I know I've bitched about finally getting it off my needles and out of my sight, but it was done with care and it felt very good to produce such a good and needful thing. As I slid it into the mailing bag, I noticed a row about halfway down the body. The stitches are twisted backwards all the way across. It was there I had to rip out several rows for a dropped stitch or other catastrophe and loaded them back on the needle flipped the wrong way. My fellow knitters were kind. "That's not a mistake, that's a design feature".

God bless 'em.

And God bless the kid.

Tiny Socks!

Anybody read Mutts?

In two days I knit a little pink sock. Okay a tiny sock but a sock nonetheless.

The pattern is Tiny Socks! from Cider Moon.
Needles: 5" bamboo dpn size 4
Yarn: Some leftover cotton I got with my "Learn To Knit" kit


I figured before tackling a full sized pair with my lovely sock yarn from Maryland Sheep and Wool some "training socks" were in order. While searching for pair of arm warmers I spotted my starters. I used a more sturdy yarn than called for in the pattern because I've never done a sock before and wanted to see the stitch definition. Tiny Socks has all the elements of a grown-up sock except there's no pad at the toe I think. It's 6 inches long from the back of the cuff to the toe if you stretch it out. The pattern called for just drawing up the last few stitches with a needle and weaving in the end. Nah. I whipped out my Knitters Companion and did a kitchener stitch with the last eight stitches. In the directions it says "used to close the toes of socks and under the arms of sweaters knit in the round". Sheesh! I wish I had known that when I was gnashing my teeth over my Knit for Kids sweater. I know I was only doing eight stitches, but the rhythm was no worse than what I was doing I think. Very cool how the top of the toe joins the bottom. It was impossible to photograph, sorry.

There were two places I think may have been mistakes in the pattern or at least I may change for the second sock. One is a missed SL at the beginning of the first heel flap row.

---------------------->

It looked sorta wrong to me after a few more rows and I ripped it back a few rows and reknit it. When I saw it was in the pattern I thought there might be a reason and moved on.

There wasn't.

<-------------------- I'm also not thrilled with how the weird triangle area at the heel looks. Only four stitches are picked up on the side of the heel. It's kinda holey. But c'mon we're talking 22 total stitches cast-on. The thing is, I did all the elements without a hitch barring my own decision to check out the hiccup with the slipped stitch.

On to sock two.

Knit for Kids

The damn Knit For Kids sweater is done. I never thought I would be so glad to be done with a charity project. Seaming up from the bottom was easy, but going across the sleeves was a NIGHTMARE. I must have ripped it out 8 – 9 times. No lie. I had 4 references for seaming and just couldn't get it through my thick skull (or thick fingers in my case). Then while studying the diagram for the umpteenth time I heard a click. Yup, my brain actually clicked. I picked up that tapestry needle and began to seam that puppy.

Somewhere along the right sleeve I must have added a stitch so I had to do some fancy work to make the edge work out but finally

IT IS FINISHED.

I washed it and blocked it on a cool piece of insulation Bobby got for me for a blocking board covered with a towel. After I show it off to my knitting pals it’s off to the post office and some little kid who will love it more than me. Don’t get me wrong, it was a great experience. But if I never see another seam again . . .

Oh, and there's one more thing that blew my mind. The Gauge. I knitted according to gauge. I measured and counted obsessively. Throughout the whole process I picked up only one stitch on my first sweater. The freaking thing came out waaay too wide in the body. I was a fraction off on two other dimensions but we're talking four inches. But check out the drawing from the pattern.

See any similarities?

It looks like short stubby arms are all the rage.

WIP barz

<-----<< Check 'em out in my sidebar over there <-----<<

I've been working on them off and on for about 6 months and finally got them to work. I had to mess with CSS, edit HTML, create an image and had no idea what I was doing. I had a "guinea pig" blog site to work on the module. Cool huh?

Stitches East

I got my letter confirming my first choice for all four of my classes for Stitches East in October.

Thursday Techniques and Tips

Class Title: Round Up
Teacher: Beth Whiteside
Description: There’s more than two ways to knit a round and a round! Cover the old standbys, circular and double-points, plus try out two circulars and the Magic Loop. Get warmed up on a neckwarmer, then test drive the techniques on the small diameter of a fingerless glove.

I need some help with purling when I change needles on DPNs and want to learn Magic Loop and two circulars too. I'm also starting my first socks soon and I've heard the horrors of ladders and such. This class was right up my alley. As a bonus I can use the two projects as gifts like I did last year.

Friday Color and Creativity

Class Title: Free-form Potpourri
Teacher: Colleen Davis
Description: This freeform technique is one among many that will open up a whole new world of fun knitting, let you break a few rules, use partial skeins of yarn and stretch your creativity Knitting will go in different directions and an assortment of shapes will be made by picking up stitches from previous shapes.

This stuff fascinates me, and I’d like to try it even if I never use it. Besides, I hate left over partial balls and can take all of mine with me.

Saturday Projects and More Projects

Class Title: Off the Cuff Beaded Wrist Warmers
Teacher: Susanna Hansson
Description: Accessory or jewelry? Hard to say. Either way, these sweet pulse warmers knit up quickly, make great gifts and are a fun addition to your winter wardrobe. Or wear a sparkly pair with a plain black top and you will be dressed for a night on the town.

From the materials list, it is beading without stringing all the beads first by using a tool. Now THAT I can get into. It also makes a little gifty item – probably for my nephew’s wife in California.

Sunday Techniques and Tips

Class Title: Switch to Continental Style Knitting
Teacher: Leslye Solomon
Description: It doesn’t matter how old you were when you learned to knit, Leslye will help you quickly and easily change your style to knit a more even fabric. Begin to fly through and love ribbing and seed stitch, and finally stop knitting too tight or loose. Aches and pains caused by your present method might be greatly reduced. Enjoy renewed knitting confidence.

I have a little trouble with my right hand dexterity so I’m really looking forward to this one. I tried it on vacation while doing some FairIsle and just wasn't sure where to put all those fingers. It was sloooow going but satisfying. I hope I’m not too beat after four days to get the hang of this one.

I had back up classes chosen for each time slot, and would have been equally happy with any of my alternates. I decided to not take any of the all day classes. Last year I did that two days in a row and nearly killed myself. Of course, I was a fairly new knitter and knit and purl was the extent of my arsenal of stitches. Still, by taking only half days and spreading the classes out over the whole run of the show, I'll have more time to shop and perhaps see some of the other exhibits. Last time I had to knit my project through lunch in miniature and re-knit it later. I was fuzzy headed and bushed! This way I can choose to go in early - or not. Stay late - or not. What a smart knitter I am.

I hope.