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 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!

 

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.

 

 

How to care for your DH in the off-season*

 

It’s simple, really:

1) Make him socks (but then don’t undo all the good you’ve done by waking him up to model said socks “for the blog.” Learn from my mistakes).

2) Make him pie.

I love apple pie, and this is quite possibly the most amazing pie I’ve ever had.

(Homemade crust, of course, and drizzled with a sugary concoction instead of the usual cinnamon fare. It is good enough to take one’s breath away. Dangerous, I suppose, when one’s mouth is full of delicious steaming hot pie).

3) Squeal with glee when he’s already one-upped you with tickets to see The Cleveland Orchestra for your birthday (and gave ‘em to you a week early)!!!!! Mahler, Das Lied von der Erde!!!! We may not do Valentine’s, but we shur-as-shootin’ do live good.

*designated hitter, or, of course, dear husband.

 

If I had a hammer…

 

This is kaleidoscope (at least inspired by kaleidoscope, you know how it goes). It came about as a fortuitous coincidence of pattern publication and yarn acquisition. Said yarn–Aracuania Ranco Multi–was originally intended to be a wrap of some sort, but if we all know how readily I am inclined to flights of fancy.

 

The even-more-fun part: Somewhere along the way of knitting this I got it in my head that it would only work with little purly snaps. I lined the hole-less button bands with ribbon first, which I think would could have been better executed on a machine with double feeds because it stretched out the knitting, leading to the dreaded bulging of the button bands.

ribbon lining

(Oh, and lessons learned for next time: I should have done the button bands in vertical rib to hide the stitching, readily apparent in the picture below but not enough to upset my general state of existence.)

“All purpose” — no joke! This spool served to cushion the hammer strokes. Kudos to the snap manufacturers for making it work without buying additional tools!

The snaps were quite simple and fun. Two parts and a few hammer blows for each side, and I’m wearing it!

This little sweater’s got some weirdness going on, what with the ribbon and loose gauge, but happily upon its first wearing the ribbon relaxed a bit–or perhaps I did because it did not bother me in the least.

 

 

This is a hat

This is a hat.

 

This is the yarn that I couldn’t stop knitting so I made a hat.

This is the yarn that I had to buy to replace the yarn that I couldn’t stop knitting so I made a hat even though it was supposed to be mittens for someone.

This is the hat that was already on the needles for a year that didn’t get done because of the yarn that I couldn’t stop knitting so I made a hat even though it was supposed to be mittens for someone.

This is my nose in the hat that I made because of the yarn I couldn’t stop knitting even though it was supposed to be mittens for someone and I already had a year-old not-done hat.

This is a hat. And that is that.

PS And this is a cat.

 

Now this is freaky

Maybe not so much for you, but for me (and I’m guessing DH), this is pretty durn freaky.

Now, chill’uns, let’s hear the story before we judge.

            In late November, a good friend and colleague of mine casually mentioned a need for a poncho that would fit over her bouncing babe in her baby carrier, the kind that can go on the front or the back. She’d found a few (pricey!) options in online stores, but me being me, I knew we could improve the general concept. I have an aversion to ponchos–drafty, and of limited access to arms, a fact that seems especially inconvenient for mothers)–and an aversion to shapeless and ugly garments, however functional.

           I’d seen a poncho-ish sweater on the bias before (it’s here if you are interested), and since I’m fond of bias knitting and in this case I felt it would be both stretchy and yet slimming, I decided that’s what I needed to do (NOTE: I’ve been on the Ravelry forums enough to know that taking inspiration from a pattern and not buying it will tick some people off. For me, it’s the same as adding a lace panel to a basic sock pattern and calling it new. The idea is so brilliantly simple, that I have no qualms admitting I took inspiration & nothing else. I totally give props to the designer for her originality! Oh, and for the no purling thing. Still don’t quite get how she accomplished that, although I did change a lot about the pattern.).

            So the above shot is the sweater in full-baby mode, frontways (I still can’t quite wrap my head around wearing your baby like a backpack, but my friend assures me it’s quite comfortable), and here is how it will look sans progeny. I’ve got a couple of closure options, but the recipient will decide exactly what she wants, so that’s why I’m holding it shut in this picture. I voted for a “baby on board” sign. I lost.

            It was lots of fun to collaborate on a project: I sent her links to various online & local vendors for yarn choices, and she made the decisions and came up with the colors (K’picks WotA in bare and Wine, plus Twirl in rust). I have to say that it looks not so good on me, but my friend actually does have pigment in her skin and very dark hair, and the colors look good on her. Plus it fits her muuuuch better. That being said, as much as I enjoyed it, at times it was very stressful, knowing that she’d invested a bunch of money in my skillz. She’s had it on, however, and she loves it, her formerly dubious husband was much impressed, and… she wants to learn to knit! Happy ending!

in spite of the good foot & a half of ease on me, it’s stylin’, eh?

And finally, I hope you all had a wonderful looooong weekend! We did.

ETA: PS– Hmm, I may be headed to the realm of rant a bit in this post. Forgive me if my words are ill chosen, and as always thought though seldom expressed please feel free to kindly express a different opinion. I actually tend to enjoy divergent opinions, thoughtfully spoken and with the intent of enriching someone else’s world. I am very sensitive to the issue that as a “hobbyist” things look a bit different than from the professional angle.

PPS Hobby. Hobbyhobbyhobbyhobbyhobbyhobbyhobbyhobbyhobby. Weird word. (Talk about enriching, eh?)