Resistant to Change

I tried. Really. I did.

I bought the new KnitPicks Options circular needle. I was anxious to use the pointier point. I started my new Swallowtail Shawl. Well you know that beginning is a little odd: provisionally cast on 2 stitches, knit a little, pick up three, release provisional ones.....a tad fiddly to say the least!

My first beginning wasn't great. OK. It's fiddly on any needle. So I got out the bamboo dpns. Shorter and more managable for this beginning. I switched over to the Options and immediately dropped a stitch, probably a yarnover, fixed it, and dropped another. Also the shiny silver of the needle points seemed to obscure or reflect the stitches. [could have been that super bright light I need!].

So I caved and pulled out my trusty bamboo circular. The one with the irritating loopy cable. Maybe once I get past the Budding Lace chart which makes up the body of the shawl, I'll be able to switch back. I know those pointy tips would be great for the nupps ahead.

"What we call 'progress' is the exchange of one nuisance for another."

Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

Vine Lace Baby Hats

Pattern: Vine Lace Baby Hat
Interweave Knitting Daily freebie

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino

(55% merino/33% microfiber/12% cashmere)
colors: 340601 pink and 340605 lavender)
1 ball will make two hats.

Needles: Size 3 dpns

Modeled here by Pink Grapefruit (Mr. Potato Head's Floridian cousin)

Simpatico

I might as well officially drop out of the lace club (Atlanta Chapter of The International Old Lacers), because I just don't ever seem to make it to the monthly meetings. I used to look forward to them so much. But times and circumstances change.

I joined when my daughter was a preschooler. Then I needed time away; time to spend with like-minded people. Then, too, it was meeting in a library in my county. Now it seems like I need more time at home, to sit in the quiet and lose myself in my handwork and I often come to resent the time it takes away from that to drive to and from the meetings which are now held further away.

That said, I do really miss seeing the projects that people are working on and feeding off the energy and excitement generated in seeing what someone else is creating.

Today I missed yet another meeting and instead had a wonderful substitute with another AWOL member, Pat.

Pat is my handwork HERO. Pat does everything and does it so well. I always remember the first time I met Pat, at the lace club, as she was showing a hand towel she had just completed. It was handwoven and the edge was decorated in handmade bobbin lace. That's when I knew I was in the right place!

I sometimes feel like I am following a few years/miles behind Pat. She's always way ahead of me in projects and talent. But I see what she's doing and I know I want to try it someday and I keep hoping I'll get there. We are all on a continuum, I suppose.

Well, Pat is working on the Lady Eleanor shawl from Scarf Style (I may have talked her into it) and in beautiful jewel-toned Noro. I wanted to see it in person; in progress. I always do better with a hands-on demonstration. Visual Learning.

[Pat's Lady E in progress]

So Pat and I met up, both with bulging bags and had a mini-meeting. No Business. No Bylaws. No Problem.

All in all a perfect meeting!

The Not-so Local LYS

The little Vine Lace Baby Hat was a very quick and satisfying knit. I knew I wanted to make another one, and right away. Hooray for twins (especially if they are coming to someone else)!

My closest LYS is Knitting Emporium in Kennesaw. I really like the shop, but it doesn't carry Debbie Bliss yarns.

A few quick calls to the others to ascertain the colors available made my decision easier. I buzzed around and got the minimum of house chores done and was on my way by lunchtime to Why Knot Knit in Buckhead. And as a BONUS, I called my best friend, and she was able to meet me for lunch and a little catching up between friends!

You can tell I'm really green at this blogging business because it never occurred to me to take the camera! Too bad, too, as I could have taken a very sweet picture of Knit Camp. About 6 girls, roughly close in age from 7-9 or so, were gathered on the floor of the baby knits room with their knitting.

I didn't really want to interrupt even though that's the room with the Baby Cashmerino. I did my browsing and then "Knock, knock, mind if I come in?". I assured them they didn't need to move or move their projects. They had some nice looking stitches on their needles (and made out of some really nice looking yarn, too!). I complimented their work and asked their teacher (playmate?) what they were making. She said they were just learning some stitches today, but earlier they had done some needle felting and made their own needles using dowels and Sculpy clay. Oh, Man! I want to go to Knit Camp!

"Youth is a wonderful thing. What a crime to waste it on children."

George Bernard Shaw born this day in Dublin, Ireland 1856

or to put it another way, as the Man on the Porch said to George Bailey and Mary Hatch in "It's A Wonderful Life":

"Ah, youth is wasted on the wrong people."

Still on the Baby Train

Did I mention there are two sets of twins that I know of that are on the way? The two getting the bootees are relatives. The other two are not.

What's the difference to me? This project, which may or may not be the first of two, doesn't necessarily have to be completed and gifted. In fact, I barely know this mother.

And yet, still I want to make her something? Yes. Any excuse to make things!

This project is Vine Lace Baby Hat (follow the links) and was one of the first free patterns offered by Interweave's Knitting Daily.

Have you signed up? I'm really enjoying my e-mails and the reminders of what Interweave is doing.

The above is just this afternoon's knitting. I'm using size 3 needles and it's feeling so soft and sweet. There won't be enough left for hat #2. So.........need to visit the yarn store!

FOur!

Four bootees for four little feet that, thankfully, have not yet arrived. They need more time to grow and develop. (Much like I, as knitter, do!)

This really is a very quick and sweet pattern. I would never have thought I'd one day be knitting bootees. I'm still not sure I'm overly fond of the idea on the whole, but I had so much fun knitting them, that they may grow on me.

I think I might like them better in a soft cream yarn. The pink was purchased specifically for this project and no cream was available. The red, also Baby Cashmerino, was leftover from another project. I thought it best to do them not matching.

"Animal crackers and cocoa to drink,

That is the finest of suppers I think;

When I'm grown up and can have what I please

I think I shall always insist upon these."
Christopher Morley (1890-1957)

A Pair, but not a FO

When does a pair not consititute a FO? Well, when you need four instead of only two!

This pair of Saartje's Bootees is the first pair.

Hopefully there will be a set of four soon. My second cousin is pregnant with twins. In fact, she's already in the hospital. Good thing that Saartje's bootees are very quick to knit.

I wandered outside my comfort zone on these. Generally I steer clear of anything requiring seaming. Seaming? Ugh. That's why I usually stick to socks and shawls.

I guess I could have knit two baby blankets. Yeah. Right!

.

"It is the inalienable right of every baby to look adorable. And it's the privilege of every mother, aunt, grandmother and friend-of-the-family to make sure of this. Whether it's for your own special bundle of bliss or somebody else's blessed event, making things for a baby with your own hands comes under the department of pure pleasure."

The New Encyclopedia of Sewing : 1949

Not Ready For Prime-Time Blogging

Well, my e-pal and knitting friend, Mary, started a blog some time back. She kindly offered to let me guest blog during her recent vacation to the Adirondack mountains, but the timing wasn't just right on my end.

Instead I've decided to try it out on my own.

I knit (finally), I tat, I embroider, I smock, I sew, I make lace. In short, if it's string, I play with it. Hence the name StringPlay.