Mom’s purses (i.e., creative insanity is heredity part II)

Those of you who have been around for awhile (and I mean awhile!) may recall that my mom makes purses. Lots of purses. Amazing purses! She brought the newest batch for me to see, and I knew I had to show you all too. I thought it would be a great eye candy Friday! Mmm, I know which three I want…

 

Mashup KAL!

There have been a lot of cool things that I’ve experienced since becoming a blogger, but this has to be one of the coolest. A little while ago Stella of A Cold Bright Day in April and I discovered that we were born just days apart. That’s pretty cool.

Then we discovered via her blogiversary contest that we were both thinking of doing a mashup of Road to Golden and Venezia (rav links). That’s way cool and a leeeetle bit scary–in a good way.

Then, we discovered that not only were we sharing a brain about patterns, we’d even picked the same colors of greens and browns (Project Spectrum appropriate, also by coincidence in my case. You too, CBD?). That’s just downright scary, and so far beyond cool. I was sending her an email describing my plan while she was posting about hers. I think it’s time for another neenerneener.*

A few years ago I knit a tote bag for my mom out of these colors (K’picks WotA in chocolate and asparagus) and had some left over. I had drawn up my own brocade-ish chart and done stranded knitting for the tote–no pictures, sorry!–and when I finally admitted I couldn’t let myself do Venezia, I started toying with the idea of using that chart with these colors for a sweater. I had to order a few skeins of the chocolate, and we’ll see if that will work! I’m not using the same stitch count or needle size as I did for my Road to Golden, just knitting it to the same size.

I started the sleeves tonight. I am always amazed that the “easy” knitting takes forever, but the “hard” stuff goes by before I can really enjoy it.

I’m as jazzed about this project as I could be, and would like to thank my better-knitting-half for the inspiration to get it out of my head and onto the needles. See you on sleeve island, I hope!

*Twilight Zone music again, that’s deedoodeedoo for some of you.

 

House shoes–a story of hope lost, self-discovery, and ultimate fulfillment

It has probably been apparent to everyone but me for quite some time that my knitterly discussions tend toward the narrative. I was lax about blogging technique, needles, and yarn information even before Ravelry, but such a superb organizational system has freed me from any guilt I might have felt in that regard. (That tagline “everything is tangential” is not just flippancy, you know.)

Today, however, my tale is brief: Grandma wanted slippers–but since we’re talking about my grandma I suppose it is only appropriate that we call them “house shoes” as she does–and I made some for her.

Well, I suppose there is more to it than that. I made a pair for her last winter, and they were so ooogly that I never wanted to make another pair of house shoes in my life.

I know, it’s frightening. Grandma must have been fine with them, though, because she wanted another pair this year. I crocheted a pair, laughably oogly (see below), and gave up. Sorry, Grandma, you’ll have to go to Bell’s.

The two different colors are because I was experimenting with cheap yarn. But it does add to the overall oogly factor quite nicely, don’t you think?

Then I found these, and since then my life has been all blue skies and rainbows. (Oh, come on, like I could ever disappoint my grandma!)

Seriously, though, I love them. A creative and clever pattern, and a great use for stray skeins. I have a feeling that everyone I know is getting a pair for some occasion or another this year. Graduating from college? House shoes! Moving? House shoes! Getting married? House shoes! Being related to me? House shoes!

They even look a little bit like real shoes (outside shoes? out-of-house shoes? ), thus bringing the “house shoe” concept to even fuller fulfillment than I could have ever hoped or dreamed.

(I wonder if Grandma’s noticed that they look like jet skis when flat? Probably.)

Oh, and I made a pair for me too.

My Rav details here and here. But, um, don’t expect needle sizes or anything

So I guess I did manage to make a story out of house shoes.

And obviously I am highly entertaining in real life as well.

ETA: DH, upon reading this post: “You know, if people didn’t know you and they read your blog they might think you were sweet and nice.”

 

Meet Otis

I bet you’ve never seen one of these before! It’s this great pattern called Clapotis! You should try it.

Ok, jokes aside, this really is a great pattern for crazy yarns like these that I dyed a little while back. Just take a gander at the pre-block back.

I didn’t plan it when I dyed the yarn, but it ended being a great fit for this project, and for the intended recipient. I’d been stirring the idea of making something for a friend of mine who’s recently experienced a few life-altering events and when I started knitting this, I knew the cheer and vitality of the project were perfect for her. We are kindred spirits in many ways, but there are other things that will always keep us a little distant (mostly those professional things that are unfortunate only in cases like these). So I’ve been hesitant to knit for her. You never know how people will respond to a gift like that, and I dread the thought of forcing someone to accept something they feel obligated to take.

That being said, her reaction was amazing. We were standing at the bus stop talking, and before her bus came I slipped her the bag. Before she even looked inside she said, “But I’ve never done anything for you!” That is so far the opposite of true I just laughed.

Anyway, she cried when she saw it. There aren’t enough stitches in the world for people like that.

And just so you don’t think I’ve gone all soft on you, here is oblivi-Vince, who apparently didn’t realize that he was wearing the evidence that he’d been into my cut-straw stitch markers (did you need more evidence that I’m rather tight-fisted? Actually they’re great)…

And a teaser! My Shocking! skirt, the colors of which are so shocking I’m making you wait for the debut. Anybody got any elastic lying around

edited 4/6 for clarity

 

I made a vest, and I really like it. Who knew?

True confessions: in junior high, I loved vests. I wore them often, and I did not, I now realize, wear them well. I had a store-bought crocheted one, one that looked like a carpet bag (but it zipped so that was cool, cough, cough), a green suede one that was my mom’s, and really might have been spectacular had it not stood out a few inches from my shoulders. And those are the highlights. Since then, I’ve been a bit leery of the vest. But when I made DH’s vest last fall and he totally rocked the look, I decided that I would give it a try too. Plus, wow do sweaters go fast when there are no sleeves involved.

This, then, is Mona Schmidt’s Tweedy Vest (Rav link). A nifty rib that is quite textured and fun to knit. I highly recommend this pattern, if for nothing more than the short row neckline that makes for a great fit. And just in case anyone has a fantastically scary memory, I did cast on for the Stephanie Japel Fitted Knits vest last fall, but after a little Ravelry browsing decided I didn’t really like the shape.

Zippity-do-dah for the tubular bind off! And my secret–for some reason, it’s much better if I do it with the wrong side facing.

PS Even think the words “sexy librarian” and I will cry! Or throw one of the c. 100 library books in my office in your general direction… this means you, DH

PPS I’ve been awful about responding to comments. I’m sorry. Fresh slate from here on out, ok? Or you can throw books at me too. Hardcover, even.

 

It’s red, it’s warm, what’s not to love?

Let’s see, I had a few unclaimed skeins of red Homespun (the Lion Brand sort), a living room in need of a little voom (the va-va sort), and a lot of reading to do (the for-school-but-still-good sort). By now surely you’ve recognized the recipe for a new blanket in my house.

I give you the “Firewood” blanket. The name is from a saying of my dad’s, that says firewood keeps you warm twice: once when you cut it, and once when you burn it. And since I knit this blanket in one piece, I was warmed by the process as well as the product (note: I did not and do not plan to burn this, let’s not take our metaphors too seriously!).

Homespun is a good blanket yarn, or so say the cats. I agree, but like so many other yarns it can go limp and lifeless when knit in one big piece. This blanket counteracts that tendency by the many bound-off edges and a deep rib pattern. My goal was that it would have some presence even when casually tossed on the couch.

But then again, the kittehs of the house prefer a more stylized look (can you believe this? I promise I had no part in arranging this except laying the blanket on the floor and then walking away to get my camera.  Any suggestions for what statement they are trying to make?).

And for the music lovers in our midst, especially those of an indie rock persuasion, have you seen the CD cover meme yet? Fun times.

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/brainiac/2008/02/cd_cover_meme.html

 

I saw, I sought, I sewed.

Friday I had a moment of weakness at Joann’s and ALMOST bought fabric to make Amy Butler’s Frenchy Bag (the pattern for which I’ve had since the moment I laid eyes on these–careful folks, she’s dangerous!). Then in an unexpected moment of maturity I walked away without that fabric, but not without feeling just a bit sorry for myself. Once home, however, I got to digging in the fabric stash, such as it is, and realized that if I raided some unused cotton duck and the leftovers from the SAMDSE*, with a little creativity I could have my Frenchy bag for the mere cost of the magnetic snap!

I can’t believe how much fun I had cutting and sewing this bag. My stitching is not straight, especially on the multiple passes, but I am so inordinately proud of myself for making this work that I don’t care. (I also made curtains that aren’t much to look at but do sufficiently darken the bedroom, a project I’d been stalled on for a few months. Can I just say that clip-on curtain rings have revolutionized my world?)

what a great “work” station for a Sunday afternoon

pattern: Amy Butler Frenchy shoulder bag

exterior fabric: Amy Butler’s Lotus “Faded China” collection

lining: cotton duck

inside- two pockets, improvised trim with scraps on cotton duck.

*Second Annual Mother/Daughter Sewing Extravaganza: My mom is great at sewing, very creative and efficient, so a few years ago we had the First Annual Mother/Daughter Sewing Extravaganza (why, no, I don’t have a flair for the dramatic, why do you ask?) and made Amy Butler’s Weekender Bag. We both had so much fun that last year–SAMDSE–we made Amy Butler robes & matching pajama pants. Mine were from this fabric.

Now it’s my turn to pick out a pattern again this year, and I don’t know what to suggest. Please leave me a pattern idea, if you have one. I was thinking a Denyse Schmidt quilt, maybe this one (Drunk love–if you like quilts and assymetry, I suggest you check it out)? Looks like straight sewing isn’t hip anymore anyway. I knew it!

PS Your regularly scheduled knitting content will resume shortly. Can you believe I’m four FO’s and many, many cute cat pics behind??

 

I need 20 g of CC, STAT!

DH is the one with the know-how, but I find that, should the need arise, I am quite capable of slicing and dicing.

Both patients prepped on the operating table.  Handspun yarn means I love every stitch, in part because of its unpredictability. “Unpredictability” is also a euphemism for not having enough yarn.

(I apologize for the graphic nature of this picture.)

The original toe is removed. The next step is implantation of the Louet Gems Pearl implant.

Recovery bay. Looking a bit pale, but we are optimistically hoping for regaining full range of motion.

And we have success! How appropriate that this sock, having triumphed over so much adversity already in its short life, blends in so well with its peer. The wounds have healed, and even though the procedure required permanent stitches (ha ha ha!), this young buck will go on to grace the feet of another fine surgeon for years to come.

The end!

 

Thwarted

Thwart- verb; passive constuction, to be thwarted

see also balk, baffle, frustrate

March, 2006: This Veronique Avery’s “Shocking” skirt. I began in a white heat over spring break and quickly realized that knitting with this acrylic yarn hurt my hands. So I stopped.

March, 2008: This Veronique Avery’s “Shocking” skirt. I began in a white heat over spring break and quickly realized that knitting with this acrylic yarn hurt my hands. So I stopped.

The difference between these two statements is that this time I’m done for good!

But I did want to show you how great this pattern is before it’s gone forever…

Um, excuse me?

Well, where’d you come from?

Fine, battle it out between yourselves.

So since the picture-taking endeavor went so poorly, I thought I’d head out to the ‘Merc and pick up some wool for this skirt at their annual 25-40% off wool sale.

FAIL!

 

Luxury

As I get older (and as of last week I’m now nearer to thirty than to twenty, as the years on my face begin to catch up with those in my crotchety heart), I come to define luxury in different ways. For example, luxury is now being home long enough to see an entire load of laundry through from start to finish. Luxury is not having to iron that laundry. Luxury is a pretty yellow teapot for a hot cuppa in the evening. Luxury is the necessity of cleaning out my office every week to accommodate the many books I bring home from the library. Luxury is homemade NY style cheesecake. Luxury is the joy of a few hours of face-to-face chat with my brother (and Dad on speaker phone). Luxury is driving home on a snowy evening listening to the Hilliard ensemble sing Josquin’s “Ave Maria, virgo serena” (I’m quite sorry to link to Amazon for the 30 sec. sample, but I can’t find a good version for free online and it is too good a piece to link to a less than stellar performance. I’ll just buy you all this CD and have it shipped to you instead, mmmkay?). Luxury is being missed, and then being greeted accordingly upon a return.

Luxury is having a great scarf.

Lady Eleanor, modified (less two repeats and less a few layers of fringing) from 4 skeins of Debbie Mum’s Traditions, which presented no problems whatsoever after the initial 4-knotted skein.