How much?

Remember how I listed all of the knitting I would take with me to the mountains?
Well, I certainly didn't live up to my expectations... I put the finishing touches on ONE item,.... after I got home.
What got in the way?
Beautiful weather, monstrous mountains, inviting geocaches, thin air, comfy hotel, and lazy days.  Those first three items were confined to 6 hours of sunlight a day... the sun didn't shine until it cleared the mountain (a 14,000 ft'er) at its peak about 9:15 AM and disappeared behind another peak... (I wondered how it could be so exact, and not go down at a lower elevation or valley...) at 3: 20 PM.
Somehow, I/we wiled away the hours days and I "only" accomplished one project, but it's a good one!
I used leftover yarn from a pullover (in February):

And made this:

It may be a bit on the short side... but we'll see in a few weeks, when it gets modeled.
I used a Norwegian pattern for both of these and Dale of Norway "Falk" yarn.  (Click to enlarge.)
Ahhhhh.  A week of R&K.  I could get used to that!

Good Bye, Kitty!

Fine! (As in Italian...)
I can't believe the face turned out acceptable!  I only had to do an eye, an ear, the bow and the nose twice!

No embellishment on the front.  Just a tie of twisted yarn.

Pattern: Kitty pants / bukse by Kristine Jorskogen from Smoochie

 Yarn: DROPS Baby Merino by Garnstudio, Fingering / 4 ply 100% Merino, 191 yards / 50 grams

In spite of myself...

Even though I try to thwart all attempts at finishing projects, I'm inching "that" much closer to the final stage of Hello, Kitty, Pants!  The face and ends are left:

Our little girl is growing so these are 65 cm/25-1/2 inches long.  I hope they will fit in the Fall.  Extenders can be knitted upon request!
All of those stripes means I had some snarly messes because I resisted cutting the yarn.  I tried to make the stripes as jogless as I could.  As I started the second round of a new color, I slipped the first stitch.  Technically, it should make that inseam about 20 rows shorter than all the other stitches, but it seems to give/stretch and work!

Sometimes cutting the yarn couldn't be avoided...  and in the middle of the leg (as opposed to the seam) I was able to cut one thread instead of two.  (FYI:  Knitted with double strand of fingering weight; DROPS Baby Merino)
With several pairs of socks, and a sweater and a shawl all in progress, I'm now more tempted to finish this off... Knitted ears and bow are next.

I thought... I was finished

Thursday, I was blocking my mock smock dress.  Usually our "DRY" heat in the SW makes this a short process, but we've been having T-storms every afternoon, and the humidity has been up to 60%, so I let it rest overnight.  Friday morning, I turned it over, and ... ... a dropped stitch.

Look at that little bugger, almost too far down to catch.  I guess that's the "good news".  I trapped it (thinking: "Remember when you got to the top and one of the panels had fewer stitches? And you shrugged your shoulders and decreased one less there? Stoopid.) and

took out a crochet hook...

and there it is.  I haven't yet, but in the near future I'll pull it to the back side and sew it down.  Heart palpitations just went up a bit... but it will be all right.  My mantra:  A Three-year-old doesn't stand still very long!

Ready for my little girl

In size 4T

All I have to do is keep the cat off of it.  He likes to claw these foam pads - BAD cat.
I think it will be nice, especially if I can find a shirt for under it.

Smocked Sweetheart Dress by Vanessa Ewing from Creative Knitting, January 2011

220 Superwash by Cascade Yarns, Worsted / 10 ply, 100% Wool, 220 yards / 100 grams

How do you knit in the heat?

I feel very sorry for all of you, especially last week when the country was HOT HOT HOT, and for some crazy reason, NM wasn't.  We've been having rain almost every afternoon, and enjoying mountain-like temperatures.  I'm not complaining!  And I've been knitting.
A little of this and a little of that...
And here's what I finished today, though it could use a little blocking, tomorrow!

 It's a cute dress in size 4T, that will be perfect for Fall (which means for folks in Norway - August).  It's a "mock smock" stitch, and I like!

The neckline as written was too stretchy and just down-right big, so I ripped it out and decreased like crazy... More another day, with a full length photo.  No model until September!

End of week Wrap-Up

A week ago I was doing two of my favorite things; Spending time with my favorite girls and knitting a new project.
Hello Kitty!

Do you think toddlers prefer a theme? I don't. I think themes and logos are imprinted on young minds, and at age three, everything is so interesting, there's no manic attachment that can't be replaced by another.  (I welcome your comment, Marija.)

 Even so, Grandma has been swept up by the craze and has started knitting Hello Kitty pants. Wool pants in July? Yes, since my 3 year old might need them in August or certainly in September. Hello Kitty? Yes, to accompany her socks and shoes. (Socks, certainly, but shoes are outgrown in two months.) White? Yes, that is craziness.

 But, washable, and used mostly inside or under rain pants and snow pants. A Hello Kitty face gets embroidered on the bum, and those are eyelets in the waist band for a drawstring.  (Click on images for a closer look.)
Cute? Yes, on my Norwegian model... Can't go wrong!

Yarn and shopping

I really like DROPS yarn.  The tactile experience makes me crazy... but in this case, my daughter steered me to something with Hello Kitty on it.  It's going to be wool pants with Hello Kitty on the backside.  It will be adorable, but WHITE!  

Washable, and worn inside or outside under snow pants.  

I have a good start on them,  and I've put a temporary face on it, hoping to attract some interest from a three year old.  Not very successful, so far.

The legs will be stripes of white, pink and fuchsia.  

My other projects:  Wedding socks--almost finished.  Saved to finish the last sock while traveling.

Smocked dress for toddler--came to where I ran out of yarn!  I don't know why, but I brought only 2 balls of that.  (Kicking myself - I could have finished it...and left it here instead of making it travel trans-Atlantic a few more times.)

Bragging rights

Last night (Knit Nite) "we" laughed so hard that we cried and came dangerously close to embarrassing accidents!  Did I take a picture?  No... I was too preoccupied with keeping up with the conversations.  Our "fat hands" were busy with knitting and cookies.  What a bunch!
Then this morning I received notice of an FO from my daughter.  And who can resist a cute pattern, a cuter model, and a talented daughter!  Did I have anything to do with it?  Maybe... :)

It's on my Ravelry page (as if I made it...what a scam I have going!)  Tons o' Elephants!  And the yarn (Lerke, Dale of Norway) is so pleasing that she's looking for more projects to use it.
And the model!

What can I say?

Fixed and Finished

Two weeks ago I wrote about fixing something that you've knitted.  At the time, I was consumed with my errors, and I didn't have a way to include pictures.  Today, I have the means to post photos, AND it's finished!  And not JUST finished, but last week finished.

I told you, she likes that pose!
Here's the stripe problem, front and back. These go with the blog about fixing (see February 13, 2012)

Quite an original pattern, with the false sleeves.  I started with orange cuffs, but they were sub-standard so I cut them off and knitted purple (larger) cuffs as an afterthought.

 This became my Egypt-sitting-on-the-beach project since I was determined that at least ONE of my projects would be purchased, knitted, completed and delivered without crossing the Atlantic several times!

The pattern:
From DaleGarn mini 2-8 år (years) nr 184

The pattern is "Sweater" 18407 designed by Kari Haugen.

The yarn: Falk by Dale of Norway/Dalegarn, Sport / 5 ply, 100% Wool, 116 yards / 50 grams

It was a joy to knit, and went so fast!  I've been knitting on 1's and 2's... Bigger needles!  Yay! 

Knitting in Patterns

Here's my final picture with model included:
I'm quite proud of this one.  It took a re-think of another pattern, some teeth gnashing, Ends and finishing, and more finishing. But the icing on the cake is when you see it 'in (on) the flesh'!
Ta dah!

Luckily, she likes this pose... Perfect show off the sweater pose!
The Pattern is from Rauma 093R, Design Baby.

And the Pattern is called "Helmønstret genser" or Fully Patterned Sweater.

The one on the right, but how cute is the one on the left???

Yarn:   Lanett by Sandnes Garn, Fingering / 4 ply, 100% Merino 213 yards / 50 grams

Other details on Ravelry.

After the Knitting

There's more to life than knitting... No, I'm just kidding!  After the knitting, is the thinking about knitting.
Just kidding, again!  I think about knitting when I'm knitting, and when I'm not knitting.  OK, I'm obsessive... I'm the first and not the last to be aware of my condition.  So, when I spent from mid August to mid November knitting sporadically on a fair isle project, all the time I was imagining a certain two year old growing out of it.  Then I threw it in a basket and started a new fair isle.  The "knitting" part is finished, and what's left?  Sewing, cutting, blocking, weaving in ends, and ... the thinking about it.
I followed a pattern that was for a pullover with a tab neck opening, and I was only considering a true (crew neck) pullover or a cardigan.  Just didn't decide until two days ago that I indeed was going to follow the instructions and make the tab opening.  It's going to be great!  At the last check of measurements of said two year old, now two and a half, it will fit if I can get it to her in the next 2 months, or by her third birthday.
Here's some of the progress:

Circular bodice, before cutting.  The needles in the center mark the front opening.

Pieces blocked, the bodice has been cut open for sleeves, neck line shaped and

when it's totally dry, ready for construction.
More thinking, and luck is in order!

Re-start...

I've half-heartedly been picking up and knitting my "heart and flowers" sweater.  Every time I do, I fret over the size.  It looks too small, and finally on Friday, I got the confirmation that, yes, it is small for my 2.3 year old.  I left it, thinking maybe someday I'll cut it up and make mittens, or a hat or... a teddy bear sweater! Or....

until I need some of the yarn in it...
I found THIS beauty!  It's in a Rauma garn pattern booklet, possibly from 1993, and ADORABLE and interesting.
Just you wait.  Even though I'm making the 3 year old size, and really have no reason to finish it before February, it's calling my name! I hate to put it down.

The history behind the yarn and colors:  My daughter bought a Rauma pattern,

made THEE most gorgeous pullover, and I bought this yarn to make a larger size.  Immediately I lost/mis-placed (I hope) the pattern, so now the yarn has found a new home.  You can't buy just the patterns from Rauma without a yarn purchase... (how rude!) so someday, I'll have to go shopping...LOL

Mission Accomplished!

The two gifts are packed away and on their way to WNY.  Of course, there's still the queasiness of wondering if they will fit.  Suddenly, I don't really know how old these 'babies' are... Did I miss a birthday or two?  I should pay more attention.
That aside, I finished them in the 3 days as planned:

Blue Bonnet

Size 12/18 months
Pattern: b18-21 Bonnet in rib in ”Alpaca” by DROPS design from BabyDROPS 18  

Yarn:  (Confession time)  I'm not sure what the blue is.  It was given to me by someone who used to knit, and it appears to be either Rauma BabyUll, or Sandnes Lanett.  Either way, it's a fingering weight, and I used 3mm needles.  The contrasting pink is definitely: Hand Dyed, 50% superwash Merino Wool, 25% Superfine Alpaca, 25% Nylon, 438 yards/100 grams.  It's very soft.  I LIKE!

Boat Ride Sweater

 Q-test Buttons!  Interesting rib pattern on the top and bottom.
Rows 1 and 2: knit
Rows 3 and 4: 1x1 ribbing.

Size 24 months.
Pattern:  Boat Ride by Grace Alexander from Creative Knitting, July 2010 

Yarn:  RYC Cotton Jeans by Rowan, Worsted / 10 ply, 100% Cotton 82 yards/50 grams.

Now, what to do finish!???  Any guesses?
By the way, a few weeks ago I thought about having a prize give-away for the 10,000th page view of this blog.  Pretty impressive number, though I don't know statistically if it's good or bad. Today, I've had 10,022 so I missed the milestone.  And I'm not tech savvy enough to look for who number 10,000 was.  So, officially, I would like to thank everyone for looking in!  Happy November, 2011.  My two-year blog-iversary is coming up soon!  That's a lot of time blogging... good or bad?  I could have been KNITTING!

To do Tuesday...

The pressure is on... suddenly, I'm in startitis mode, thinking of gifts, Christmas, little people growing out of sizes I've started...  you know that sinking feeling when you realize that you haven't picked up a project intended for that 2 year old, and realize that she's almost 3...
My hub is traveling East in less than a week, leaving home in three days, and I really would like to send two UFO's with him.
One:  A new bonnet, requested by a niece for her little one.  It's quite easy to do requests when someone knows exactly what they want, and the colors, and is willing to pay for it, too!  And family, of course.  So, I wouldn't take money for it.  It will be a gift.

Needs an inch of pink ribbing at the bottom, and a row of pink crochet around the face opening.

Two:  A little pullover for another niece's little one.  Back is finished, needs the rest... hmm. Two days?

Very cute ribbing pattern at the top and bottom, done in cotton.

Three:  Not really a deadline, but the child is growing!  Intended to be a pullover, I think I'll cut it open and make it into a cardigan so I can add a bit of width with button bands.

Hearts and Flowers - better be done by the end of the month so it will be delivered before Christmas.

Four and Five:  My knitting class that I'm teaching ends in one week.  Here are the projects, which won't be finished by then...

Cabled scarf, intended for my ambitious beginners, and short row heel sock for my ambitious intermediate knitters.

See you next week!!  HA!!

Altering knits

Some knits I finished, some needed altering, and others needed to be tweaked.
#1:  Romper;  Perfect as is!  Length in the legs for a growing girl.

Previous Romper Blog

Pattern: Gift Wrap Romper & Sweater by Carina Spencer from Gift Wrap Collection eBook;
Yarn: Encore Colorspun Worsted by Plymouth Yarn, Worsted / 10 ply, 75% Acrylic, 25% Wool 200 yards

#2: Scarf with Sprinkles;  an interesting pattern done in mosaic colorwork.  Didn't get a finished picture... One end is attached to the bow, and other end threads through behind the bow.

Pattern: Sprinkles & Squares Scarf by Pam Powers from Art Fiber Design

Yarn is leftovers of Sandnes fingering.

#3:  Altering and extending the life of a beautiful cardigan:  Three tiered, now really three tiers. Original ended with the blue tier.  Cuffs were extended, too.

Previous blog post plus July 23 and Aug 4 (2011)

#4:  Pink Powell;  I was never happy with the collar/opening on this one, and when I saw it on her, I knew it was just too big.  As she wore it, it seemed to widen and begin to fall off her shoulders, so I pulled out some rows, decreased the number of stitches and finished off in a stretchy picot bind-off.  Never saw it modeled, but I think it will work.

Previous Blog Post  plus July 23, Aug 4, Aug 6, and Aug 11 (2011)

#5 and #6:  The Cupcake mittens, and the Eco Vest (made with the well traveled Mongolian Cashmere, total of 5 trans-Atlantic crossings) made their ways home. Whew!

Back to... 'normal'

Painting leaves for Grandma

Two days ago, my daughter and granddaughter departed, separating us by 4,600 miles. I am very lucky that they would travel this far to see us, and allow lots of play-time, crazy non-sense with spaghetti cooked in hot dogs, rice on the floor, paint on the sidewalks, and intermittent screams of terror at night!  Although these sound very disturbing, we enjoyed it every moment we could, and fell comatose into a stupor 2 hours after they left. We will have lasting memories of her bedtime ritual of presenting us with a blanket, in which she would allow herself to be wrapped and carried outside to view the stars, moon, and Jupiter accompanied by Twinkle, Twinkle...  It was magical for us, and doubly magical for mommy who was delivered a willing toddler with eyes closed.

Close to Grandpa.

I'm planning on picking up the pieces of my life, and returning to a busy schedule this week, but first I'll try to write some blog posts, in some sort of order so you can see what happened.
One thing I would like to address is how stressful it is to live with a 2 year old and a 16 year old.  The 2 year old, a toddler, who is crazy about all things 'doggy' (the 16 year old).  Both of them managed uncharacteristically well, since the toddler made sure there was maximum contact between them...  The 16 year old doggy was given up for lost 2 years ago when she had a severe stroke and disabled her eye-sight and walking.  Within 2 weeks, she had recovered much of her ambulatory skills which leaves her running smack into things... she sees some things on one side only, and hears nothing.  So, when she had her last visit to the vet, and it was decided that she wouldn't need a 3 year rabies shot, because, really... (a 19 year old dog?) I opted for the 3 year rabies shot.
A week later, there she is, struggling to move, struck down by another stroke, totally visually impaired, and being carried outside because of limited mobility.  Stopped eating, too.  We tried to put aside the obvious thoughts while the 2-year-old continued her fascination with all things doggy.  A big factor in this fascination was brought on by our cats (Bonnie and Clyde) who made themselves very scarce until after said toddler's bedtime.  (Bonnie provided an educational tableau one evening by letting a mouse run around in the kitchen. No pictures... but lots of mouse hunting stories.)
Today's conclusion:  She's got 'good genes' (as the vet says), and by the time we returned from the airport, our 16 year old was eating, running around, and acting very non-114 "people years".

Puppy or 114 years old? (She's looking at you...)