And Now One For Mom

Yeah, I'm still on the kick.  I'm knitting up yet another Slouched Tuva Hat.  This one is for my mom, which I'm really loving the way it's turning out.  The colors play in a much different way than they did on the pink one.  I really like it much better.  If it weren't for the fact that I think my mom would like this one better than the gray, I'd keep this one!  Who knows, I may still decide to yet.

Since I've got the picture there, I have to point out that cake of yarn.  Isn't it lovely?  One might even say it's very proper looking.  It almost looks like it, say, came off a yarn baller.  Well, it didn't.  I actually caked that yarn by hand.  Can you believe it?  By hand!  I can't make a ball of yarn to save my life, but since I've learned how to make it look like a cake of yarn, I've never stopped doing it this way.  It looks awesome and it's so incredibly practical.  The only down side is it doesn't work so well as a center pull, but I haven't been using center pull balls anyway.  The ball of yarn falls apart too much when you get to that outside edge, meaning I have to redo the end of the ball anyway.  This may result in more yarn bouncing around, but at least I know the yarn will be in a nice, solid little ball when I'm done and I can stow away the leftover stuff for later.

One would think I'd be sick of these hats by now, but I'm really not.  I love the way the yarn is coming together differently for each hat.  You can see in this picture the way the yarn almost stripes on the pink hat, but it doesn't really do that at all on the purple one.  If I had to take bets, I'm guessing the gray one is going to be similar to the pink one.  We'll see how they turn out.

Seeing the two of these hats together makes me feel really accomplished.  This feels like the most knitting I've done in a long time, even if it is just because each project is smaller and therefore done quicker.  It may be less stitches than a pair of socks, but it feels like I've gotten so much more done.  It's more of a feeling of instant gratification.  Undoubtedly I'll be on to the third hat, or at least balling up the yarn, by tonight, if not tomorrow morning at the latest.  There's something instant gratification about it that really has me inspired to keep on knitting.  Now I just need to find the yarn to make a whole stack of these hats up so all the kids can have one!

More Slouched Tuva Hats

I hope you enjoyed reading about the Slouched Tuva Hat.  There are more.  The pattern was so lovely I decided I had to knit another for myself.  That's when I realized that there's this lovely set of yarns my mom got me at the farmer's market last winter.  We each picked out a color, though I have no idea who picked what anymore.  I'm pretty sure I picked the gray.

These yarns have been on hand for quite some time.  I've been hanging on to them, waiting for the right project to come along.  I'd thought about some kind of beret, because I love a good slouchy beret.  I wanted to do something that would really look stylish.  The problem was finding a pattern that would suit my sister, my mother, and myself.  We've definitely got different styles.  Every time I see my mom she's styled out of a catalog, probably Eddie Bauer or something like that.  J. Crew also comes to mind.  She seems to like her hats practical.  My sister is very much into the vintage styles.  She would love for me to make her a lovely cloche.  For me?  My style wanders between grunge, neo hippie yoga mom, and "hipster", though I guess one could say I was hipster before hipster.  I like my super slouchy berets, tams, watch caps, and beanies.  Finding something that would suit all three of us was definitely a tall order.

When I finished the Slouched Tuva Hat for Bear, I sent a picture to my sister.  She responded with how incredibly cute it was.  She loved it!  Immediately I snatched up a skein of yarn and cast on.  It seemed like the perfect hat.  It was practical enough that it would suit my mother.  My sister already loved it.  I needed to make my sister a Slouched Tuva Hat too!  I wanted to knit one for myself before I even made one for Bear.  It works up fairly quickly.  It was the perfect hat for the situation!

The reaction my sister had was priceless.  "You know I love looking like a Dickensian orphan."  To some that would sound sarcastic, but from her it's actually a compliment.  It's part of her playful personality, and her love for literature blending together.  She's definitely someone I find knitworthy because she absolutely loves the stuff I make.  The fingerless gloves I made for her last year were such a success that she took them with her when she went to Denmark.  I consider it a high compliment that she brought them on a trip abroad.  Traveling often means selecting what you bring carefully to avoid being burdened with luggage.  The fact that those gloves made the cut reminded me just how much she appreciates the quality of high end knits.  I even wrote about how knitworthy she was last year.

Between the gooshy, perfect yarn that knits like a dream and the pattern I love to knit, I'm having a great time with this matching hat project.  I'm working with 100% baby alpaca, and while this pattern doesn't have a lot of drape, which is something baby alpaca is great for, I think it's lovely for the project.  It has a soft, warm feel, and the slouch wants to drape and fall naturally.  I don't have to work to make it slouch down in the back.  It's truly lovely.

For a pattern that's got to fit the styles and lives of four people, this isn't a bad one.  I'm going to have a good time working these up.  The result is going to be phenomenal.  I'm so excited to see how my mom and sister are going to react to getting them for Christmas this year.  Once I get these hats done, my Christmas knitting will be done.  I might do up some matching hats for the kids this year, but I'm not sure.  Those can really wait because I can knit for them for no reason at all.  I don't need an occasion to knit for them.  These hats, however, are definitely an occasion to give a lovely gift, which is especially pleasing because it's a gift that was given to me.  There's no better way to return a gift to the giver than to have it transformed into something lovely!

The Slouched Tuva Hat

Obviously (by all the more frequent blog posts) I've been on a knitting kick.  More specifically, I've been on a hat knitting kick.  This project is no exception.  It's called the Slouched Tuva Hat.  I wasn't really sure what to consider it.  It's not really a beret.  It's kind of like a beanie.  Whatever it was, it looked like a nice knit and the model on the page was a child wearing this gorgeous red color.  I remembered that I had a red like that, and it just so happened to be in the right weight of yarn too.  I was going to knit up a hat for Bear.

The pattern worked up so easily.  It's just a four row repeat with some plain knitting and some yarn overs and decreases.  It gives it this pretty mesh look to it.  It's so simple I could easily work on it in the dark, while watching television, or as I have been, while doing school work with Bear.  I think it was a little shorter than the pattern recommended, and it seemed tighter than I would have wanted in my yarn, but I think a lot of that could have easily been changed by changing the yarn weight or the needles.  Of course, that doesn't matter because I was making it for a preschooler.

The best sign of a good hat is when the recipient refuses to take it off.  I'd call that an instant win on anything I knit up.  I love the way it looks, and it was a mark of pride that had to be shown off.  Bear wanted at least a million pictures in the new hat.  Now I'm getting requests for more hats, but not for Bear.  That one hat is enough because it's perfect.  Everyone else needs hats just like that.  At the very least, look at that face!  It really says it all!

I'm very much a beret and slouchy hat wearer, so it was really nice to be able to share my favorite style of hat with my mini-me.  I loved the pattern so much that the request to make them for everyone doesn't seem like a half bad one.  I've already decided it's going to be the pattern I use for the matching hats my mom, sister, and I are all getting from yarn my mom got me at the farmer's market.  We each picked out our own color.  It'll be interested to see the changes as Bear's hat was done out of Plymouth Yarns Dream Baby DK.  The yarn I'm going to be using is a lovely baby alpaca.  It's certainly going to have a lot more drape to the slouch, and it should make for some really nice warmth.

I've got to admit, this yarn wasn't something I ever thought I would use for a hat.  It's an acrylic microfiber/nylon blend, but it doesn't feel like acrylic usually does to me.  It's got this nice softness.  Plus, it's washable, which is great for a child.  I could have used superwash, but this is cheaper and I had it on hand.  If it gets lost, it's not a huge deal.  Given it's for a preschooler, getting lost is a reality I have to face.

I've noticed I'm on a hat kick lately.  It all started with the Leaving Cowl, even though I know that's not a hat.  There was something nice about an easy, quick knit and the feeling of a larger yarn and needles in my hands.  I ached less when I was working it up.  That was followed by my Lullula Beret.  Now I'm going to be making three more Slouched Tuva Hats.  I'll be honest, I was looking in my yarn stash to see what else I could dig out to turn into hats.  I seem to have some pretty good options.  I'm sure you're going to be hearing about those soon.  I forgot how much I like knitting hats and how incredibly wearable they are.  Unlike socks, I don't have to worry about my weirdly thick calves, my high instep, and my narrow feet.  Instead I can just knit it, and if it doesn't seem slouchy enough for me, add more repeats before casting off.  A simple hat is perfect travel knitting.  It's a small enough project to throw in my bag, and it works up quickly so it feels like I've really made progress, even if I only had a few minutes to work.  Best of all, it's a project I don't have to pull off my shoes to show off!

Another Pair Down and Project for My Nemesis

This has been a rather productive week for me, and it's only just begun!  It all started with finishing the pair of Snuggle Paw Warmers for Sable.  Those worked up quicker than I remember them being.  I guess the pattern has just become so intuitive that I can whip them out like nothing.  They seem to fly off my needles almost as soon as I cast them on.

I have to admit, this isn't my personal choice in yarn, but they didn't turn out too badly.  The only problem is the photos don't really seem true to color no matter what I do.  They're not quite so peacock in color and are a lot more ruddy.  But the important part is that Sable is happy with them.  Above all else, that's what matters, right?  And I'm not disappointed in the outcome either. They aren't my taste, but that's because I prefer solid colors and kettle dyed yarns that allow the pattern to speak, or simple patterns that really allow the yarn to speak.  For handpainted yarns like this, I tend to gravitate towards a lace pattern, if I use anything, because that allows the pattern and the colors to really pop together in a way that's unique.  Even so, it's not a bad combination in this case.  It's not my style, but I do kind of like it.  I'm glad I was able to step outside my own boundaries in color preference to do something that I wouldn't normally do.

That's how I'm feeling with the socks for my sister.  To me the color and the pattern together are rather loud.  I'm not all for loud things and originally wanted to do a simpler pattern that would allow the yarn to speak for itself, but my sister said if I'm going to do it, I might as well go all the way, right?  This is how I ended up knitting socks that are a loud color with a pattern.  The pattern isn't as bold as I originally wanted, but I think it's going to suit her just fine.  Besides, there's the comedy in knitting "Nemesis" socks for my sister.  I think the whole concept is very appropriate, even if I don't love the color and pattern combination.  Actually, in this case I don't think it's that bad.  The subtle ribbed pattern works really well with the yarn she selected.  It's really kind of a nice combination, in spite of my resistance to making something so incredibly bold.  Additionally, it's a simple enough pattern that it doesn't seem too loud when paired with the yarn.  It's almost complimentary, even though a plain colored sock would show that pattern a lot more effectively.  It's starting to grow on me in an odd sort of way.  I never expected anything like this ever would.

The pattern is so simple, in a way, that I'm able to really dig in and enjoy things while knitting.  In this case I've been watching Penny Dreadful while knitting.  It's meant I've gotten a lot of the project done in relative quick time.  I'm surprisingly already most of the way to the heel turn.  I'd considered doing an alternative heel, but I think I want to stick with the standard heel flap.  The pattern continues all the way down the back of the heel, which I think will make the sock look more interesting.  I like my short row heels and afterthought heels, but there's something about doing the pattern as prescribed that just seems right.  It's been a while since I've done exactly that, so I think it might be time I tried it again.  Besides, I haven't knit a traditional heel in years.  It would be fun to do one as an alternative to what I always do.  There's something really enjoyable about going back and doing something different.  I get so set in my ways with things like socks that I sometimes forget that there is an option other than my standard go-to.  It also provides a different challenge, something I haven't had in a while.  I'm not exactly up to doing lace shawls or anything at the moment, so having a project like this to offer me a challenge seems just about the right pace.

Well, That Went Not Quite As Planned

The first Time Traveler sock is done!  I was so excited as I bound it off that I had my son (who was 99% ready for school) take his shoe and sock off to try it on.  The result?  Failure.  His foot won't fit.  He can't get them past the heel.  I've got the gauge right, the measurements right.  The sock fits wonderfully on the foot, but the heel just causes a problem.  I forgot that while his midfoot is a normal size for his age, just like me, he has a problem with a really high instep and an unusually large measure around the heel.  It was tragic.  I began to go through my head to figure out how I could get it to be the right size.  The conclusion?

The socks are awesome, but they're not enough to get him excited.  As you can see, all was not lost.  His brother now gets a pair of new socks that somehow fit him perfectly (no idea how that worked out!) and I'm now casting on the second sock.  It's not terribly far along and certainly won't be done before the end of Halloween unless I knit like a beast, and since I'm moving, ,that's not going to happen.  Still, I'll have one boy happy to wear them all year round.  I know the next one up will love them too.  Is it wrong that I've got no problems with handing down socks?  They steal each other's socks all the time.  I'm creeped out by doing that with underwear though (even though, little secret?  My sister and I shared all our socks and underwear when I was a kid...)

And just in case you were wondering how I'm able to enjoy a movie with my kids while knitting?  Well, apparently you have no need to fear!  Little Bear has made sure I can enjoy all the proper fun of a movie while knitting.  The story is retold in exhausting detail (in case I missed anything by counting or looking at charts).  I even get popcorn hand fed into my mouth so I won't get the yarn buttery.  Who wouldn't enjoy a deal like that!  It's too funny because I put my knitting down once I was done with the heel turn and I was told I couldn't eat it myself.  I had to keep on knitting!  No, that one's not addicted to knits, not my Little Bear!  We thoroughly enjoyed it.  I hope you all have a wonderful holiday, and don't eat too much candy!  I'll be enjoying it myself, after some moving.  It feels good to be getting stuff in the new house!  Finally home!

Knitting for the Worthy

In my mind, everyone should be worthy of beautiful, hand knit goods.  The reality is some people just aren't worth it.  Some people just don't appreciate a hand made gift and would honestly much prefer something simple, like a gift card, or something they've truly wanted, like a video game.  I've had to learn to distinguish between the people who really deserve my hard work, and those who don't.  It's taken me a while, but I've decided there are some people I'm just never going to knit for.

As it so happens, one of these people is not my sister.  I picked up knitting when I was pregnant with my second child.  I'd lived near home, but life circumstances kept me away from my family.  I'll be honest, those early projects probably wouldn't have earned the love of my sister.  She'd probably have hated those early projects, made with cheap craft store yarn, simply because I didn't know what quality yarn was at the time.  I love my sister, but she's a bit of a snob when it comes to garments.  They have to be nice, fashionable, and very wearable.  Back in the early days of knitting, that's simply not what I would have had to offer.

After my son was born, it took me almost 8 years to get back to the point where I was near my family.  By then my sister was busy, especially with my mom having been in an unfortunate accident (and I mean that honestly, not in the "accidental" in quotes kind of way).  We hadn't really seen each other, yet I had promised her knits, and I would deliver.

My sister is one of those types that would be any knitters dream.  She loves lace.  She's not afraid to hand wash garments even socks.  Colors hold a special place for her, and she can appreciate the textures and the beauty almost as well as I can.  I say almost because she hasn't had the kind of exposure to yarn the way I have.  It's a different relationship when worked by your own hands.  Even so, she finds it beautiful.  I simply had to knit for her for Christmas this year (though this may be bumped up to her fast approaching birthday).  I knew I had to make her something special, so using the pattern I designed, that seemed like the logical option.

I have to admit, I'm not entirely a fan of how the colors played out.  I had imagined them being a bit more of a central balance.  I had to work with the yarn, matching up scraps to get the striping just right.  This was for my sister, who is every bit as much of a snob in my mind, at least when it comes to beautiful crafts, as I am.

To be fair, she probably would have loved them eve if they didn't so perfectly match.  That is my own personal bias on hand crafts.  Still, these would be her first knitted gift, so they had to be perfect.   They had to be just the way I saw them in my mind.  First impressions count for quite a bit, after all!

I hope this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship.  Not only is this a chance to rekindle our relationship as sisters, but it's a chance for me to share something I think she'll really, truly love.  It's something special we can share, since I know she'll truly love them, and if I make her knits year after year, she'll continue to wear them until they wear out, or her closet is bursting with them, whichever comes first.

This is all going to be very brief.  I'm really tired.  Still, I have a Monday, Wednesday, Friday schedule to keep, which seems to be working for me, and I forgot Monday (or more accurately, my net was down), so I wanted to keep the routine.  Tomorrow's project?  I'll be talking about yet another pair of socks.  Until then, have a wonderful night!