Completions

I have been VERY productive this semester, as mentioned previously. Here are a few of the things I have finished. (This is not a complete rundown, since some of the projects were commissions, which I will talk about tomorrow, or are Christmas gifts, which I will show you after the holiday!)

Three Towers:
A few months ago I was ordering yarn from KnitPicks and needed to spend another $3 in order to get free shipping...so I ordered a ball of Swish DK Yarn in Merriwether...a color they don't seem to have anymore. When it arrived, I realized that it was almost the same color as Sister's eyes, and decided use it to make a beret for her. I had come across a stitch pattern that looked like the Eiffel Tower. Since Sister and I visited Paris together, I thought it would be fun to try and incorporate that into my standard beret. The result? The Three Towers.

Grimm Scarf:
I had initially hoped to submit the pattern for my blood and shadows scarf to KnitPicks. Who knows? I still might. In order to do so, I needed to knit a version of it out of one of their yarns. I bought a skein of the Imagination Hand Painted Sock Yarn in Wicked Witch. I also decided that the scarf pattern needed a new name. Since the original scarf was made as an homage to vampire literature, I knew I wanted a name that was dark. At the same time, I wanted to tie the name into the fantasy nature of the yarn colourways. How handy that some of the best fairy tales were written by the Brothers Grimm. I finished the scarf while I was in Kentucky a few weeks ago.

Shrug:
I made myself a shrug out of KnitPicks Shamrock yarn in Campbell. I LOVED working with this yarn. The color changes in it kept the knitting interesting, even though the pattern was the single most brainless project I think I have ever done! The pattern was the free Lion Brand Stockinette Shrug. I've linked to it, but it may require a membership to view. It is a REALLY easy pattern. You knit a really long rectangle with ribbing at each end, and then seam up the sides. It is crazy. And I think it is very flattering. (Also, it is very warm...being Shetland wool and all...)

Clementine Cardi:
I sort of almost finished this one. But I am still mad at it. No pictures until I get to Washington.

Colton Scarf:
After I finished the Baby^3 Blanket, I had odd amounts of the various yarns left over. What to do? What to do? And then it hit me...make a version of the scarf that goes with everything! I did a 2x2 ribbed scarf, changing yarns at random points throughout. It came out beautifully. I'm giving it to BFF for Christmas so that she can match the baby! (I'm pretty sure she doesn't read the blog, so I feel perfectly safe posting it here...)I think that this is a really great way to use up the stash as well. I have lots of little teeny tiny scrap balls that are just begging to be scarfed up!

Chaperon Knitting

I host the teen book and movie club at the library. The teens read the monthly scheduled book, then meet at one of the libraries to watch the film version. This provides me with a lot of time to knit "on-the-clock".

The knitting I do during the teen movies has to be even more brainless than what I typically take to the theaters. During the movie my attention is divided between the film and the behavior of dozens of teenagers.

I am shushing.

I am glaring.

I am evicting.

I am shaking my knitting needles threateningly in their general direction. (Which is usually greeted with gales of laughter, thereby defeating the purpose of my waving them in the first place!)

Well, I have finally discovered the best possible project for chaperon knitting: a patchwork baby blanket. It is all garter. All the time. And each section of the blanket is large enough that I can work on a single section for a whole film without having to change colors/pick up stitches.

It is also helping me meet a looming deadline (or birthline, as it were...) BFF is having baby number three, so I am making her/him the "Baby^3". (Get it? The blanket is cubed because it is the third baby, and it is made up of boxes! Oh, the cleverness of me!)

My design is loosely based on the "Moderne Baby Blanket" from Mason Dixon. Only loosely based, since I have changed the number of colors, the yarn gauge/needle size, and the shape/size/direction of every patch. No plan. I'm just winging it

I would show what it looks like, but that would ruin the surprise for BFF...so instead...here is a look at the yummy yarn!

Recuperating

Well, I am over my fever...hooray!

I was able to get a little bit of knitting done yesterday afternoon, but it was hard.

I needed a project that required next to no brain cells.

I also wanted to make sure that it was one that was okay to knit while sick...one that would be impervious to germs.

I ended up making a dishcloth. For myself.

Today I went back to work, and am doing MUCH better. So, tonight I jumped back on my Christmas queue...actually finished one project that I had started last week, and did a second one start to finish. Unfortunately, these are not bloggable since they are gifts...

Productivity. It's a beautiful thing.

Honk Honk Rattle Rattle Rattle Crash Beep Beep

I was in a car accident this morning while on my way back home from Brother's house.

(Disclaimer: I am fine. My car is surprisingly fine.)

I rear ended a pick up truck on the freeway. He stopped suddenly, presumably because he saw the cop on the side of the road. I hit my brakes, and would have stopped in time if it had not been raining. My tires stopped moving, but my car kept going and slid right into the truck's bumper.

It shook me up quite a bit.

I got to work, but they sent me home to de-stress.

I de-stressed by STARTING to wind a skein of lace weight. It is calming, but taking longer than anticipated.

I think I will take a break and go knit something brain-free.

Harry Potter

I am going to go see Harry Potter tonight with Blondie. I am very excited since I am the only person in my family/circle of friends who has not seen it. (My work schedule and gimp-status kept me from going sooner.)

I am racking my brain to figure out what knitting should accompany me.

Should I take a project that I have been working on for eons, a project that has a deadline (quickly approaching), or a new project altogether?

I feel like I ought to work on something out of my Harry Potter knitting book, but none of those patterns are really of the brain-free nature that a Potter movie requires...and I don't have yarn on hand, so would have to go shopping...which isn't necessarily a bad thing...

I could always work on a coffee cup cozy for the gift stash, since they are the definition of brain-free...only I would finish the cozy before the movie ended.

Dishcloths are another option...but how boring is that? And I am a wee bit dishclothed out.

ARGH!!!

I don't know.

I'll figure it out.

It is so difficult being me sometimes!

Movie Theater Dishcloth III

This is yet another easy dishcloth pattern for great brain-free movie theater knitting. It is definitely more complex than the other two, and should absolutely be cast on before the lights dim. However, unlike Movie Theater Dishcloth II, you don't need to know which row you are on since every row is the same. (And, like all dishcloths, this makes a great gift!)



Movie Theater Dishcloth III

Finished Size: 8"x8"

1 - 2 oz ball of 100% cotton worsted weight (Another great use of self striping yarn!)
1 - US size 7 circular needle (I recommend using at least a 16" since it starts out fairly long. You can switch to a shorter circular or even straights toward the end if you like.)
3 - stitch markers or bits of scrap yarn

Gauge: 20 stitches = 4 inches in garter stitch

Cast on 40 stitches. Place marker. Cast on an additional 40 stitches. Place marker. Cast on an additional 40 stitches. Place marker.Cast on an additional 40 stitches. (160 stitches total, 3 markers total.)
Every Row: [K1, K2Tog, YO, K2Tog, Knit to Marker, Slip Marker.]Repeat to end of row.
Repeat this row until there are only 4 stitches between the markers.
Finishing Row 1: [K2Tog, K2 Tog, Remove Marker.] Repeat to end of row.
Finishing Row 2: [K2 Tog.] Repeat to end of row.
Trim yarn to 12". Thread through live stitches and pull tight.
Use remaining tail to seam up the diagonal edge.
Weave in ends, block if desired, clean dirty dishes.

(This pattern is original with me, in that I haven't seen it anywhere else! It came about when I was trying to complete a set for a wedding present. I had a self striping yarn and was trying to show off the striping differently in each cloth. I had one that was diagonal, one that was mitered, one that was straight, and then tried to figure out how to do this box style!)

Movie Theater Dishcloth II

This is another pattern for a simple dishcloth that also makes for great brain-free knitting at a movie theater. This one is a little more complex, in that you have to quasi-pay attention to whether you are on an odd or even row. Also, unlike Movie Theater Dishcloth I, it is probably best to cast this one on before the lights dim since you need to count and accurately place the marker!I just look at where my cast on tail is though to keep it straight...still really easy. (Also, again, makes a great gift!)



Movie Theater Dishcloth II

Finished Size: 8"x8"

1 - 2 oz ball of 100% cotton worsted weight (Another great use of self striping yarn!)
1 - pair US size 7 straight needles
1 - stitch marker or bit of scrap yarn

Gauge: 20 stitches = 4 inches in garter stitch

Cast on 40 stitches. Place marker. Cast on an additional 40 stitches. (80 stitches total)
Row 1 (and every odd row): Knit to marker. Slip marker. Knit to end
Row 2 (and every even row): Knit until 2 before marker. K2Tog. Slip marker. K2Tog. Knit to end.
Repeat until there are 4 stitches on the needle.
K2Tog. Remove Marker. K2Tog.
K2Tog. Trim yarn. Thread tail through remaining stitch. Pull tight.

Weave in ends, block if desired, clean dirty dishes.

(This pattern is sort of original with me, since I don't remember seeing it anywhere else as a dishcloth. However, mitered squares are, again, common patterns, so I still can't really take credit for it!)

Movie Theater Dishcloth I

This is a pattern for a simple dishcloth that is great brain-free knitting at a movie theater. Not only is it an easy pattern, but it is small enough to stash in your purse! They are fast knits too! I finished 3/4 of one of these during Up on Sunday night. (Great gift idea!)



Movie Theater Dishcloth I

Finished Size: 8"x8"

1 - 2 oz ball of 100% cotton worsted weight (Such as Sugar'n Cream...it is especially fun to use a self-striping yarn like I did in the sample!)
1 - pair US size 7 straight needles

Gauge: 20 stitches = 4 inches in garter stitch

Cast on 4 stitches
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: K2, YO, K2
Row 3: K2, YO, K to end.
Repeat Row 3 until there are 56 stitches on the needle (53 rows)
Row 54: K1, K2Tog, YO, K2Tog, K to end
Repeat Row 54 until there are 4 stitches on the needle.
Knit one row
Cast off 4 stitches

Weave in ends, block if desired, clean dirty dishes.

(This pattern is not original with me, but I don't remember where I first saw it. It is a common pattern...kind of like a garter stitch scarf, so no one can really take credit for it!)

In Praise of Audiobooks

It is commonly known that I can knit while: talking, eating, watching a movie, riding in a car, listening to a lecture, sitting on the beach, etc.

It has even been rumored that I can knit in my sleep. (This is not true. Although, when the holiday crunch comes I sometimes wish it were.)

However, depending on the activity, I have to limit the skill level of project I am pursuing. Movies that require attention or a lot of eyes-on-screen time need brain-free knitting. Car rides through scenic venues need brain-free knitting. Talking to friends who actually appreciate eye contact needs brain-free knitting. Eating definitely needs brain-free knitting.

Enter the audiobook.

These boogers are GREAT!!!! I get all the mental stimulation of a movie plot, the rapier wit of a good writer, AND my more complex knitting projects get their required eyeball time.

Since moving into the apartment, and my quarter ending, I have successfully completed 4 audiobooks AND made huge progress on some of my more intricate projects.

(Currently knitting to: Comforts of a Muddy Saturday by Alexander McCall Smith, narrated by the DIVINE Davina Porter. In audiobooks, the narrator makes all the difference.)

Packing Projects

I have a really hard time deciding what knitting projects to take on trips with me. I don't want to take too little and be left with nothing to do, but I also don't want to over pack. It is an issue that has been coming up a lot lately.

Last weekend, for example, I went to my brother and sister-in-law's house for one night. I repeat, ONE NIGHT.

I took three projects.

I can justify this though, because not only do I have to take enough projects time-wise, I also have to take enough projects type-wise. Here are things I take into consideration:

Purse Projects: Always need one of those. They must be compact, and can involve some thought, but not tons. Socks work well here too. Purse projects are what I work on when I am in the car with people, in line somewhere, waiting for a bus, chatting at a friend's house, that type of thing. Last weekend it was a coffee cup cozy.

Brain-free Projects: These projects must be able to be done in the dark, and not require looking in any way. This is what I work on during movies, while reading, or while watching tv. They are usually scarves, beanies, or dishcloths. Some purse projects can also, depending on where I am in them, be brain-free...like socks. However, brain-free projects do not have a definite size restriction. Last weekend it was a scarf.

Pattern Projects: These are "involved" and generally require that I have the actual pattern handy and am able to read it. I do this type of knitting while listening to books on tape, lying in bed, or (depending on who I am with)sitting around chatting with people. (My family and some close friends are used to my knitting, and don't mind my not making eye contact while talking...it also works well when I am not actually part of a conversation, just listening to others or watching them play a video game or something.) Also, pattern projects tend to get larger and more unwieldy than the other two types.

Once I have picked a project for each pattern type, I need to take into account the length and nature of my trip. If I am going somewhere for 4 or 5 days, I might need to take more than one purse or brain-free project depending on what the itinerary is. Long plane trips both ways might even call for 2 pattern projects.

I am going back to Brother's house for one night this weekend, and then to the parents' house for 4 days and 2 plane rides next weekend. Better get planning.