Possibly the most meaningful thing (to me) I have ever knit.

A few years ago when I was knitting stockings for my family I chose something 'fancy'. Something that was a bit of a challenge and really love the results. I opted not to make one for myself. I continue to hang the same stocking that has been hung on a mantle for the past 30-something years. It was made by my Nana, as was everyone's in my family (and extended family, and pets). It's simple, made with inexpensive yarn and felt. It isn't 'fancy' and it is christmas. 

I was and is important to me to make sure the tradition of handmade things continues for my family. I think that would have made my grandparents proud. The moment I found out that had a little niece or nephew on the way, I wanted to make sure I would be able to continue this tradition for them and their parents (whether they use the stocking or not isn't the point). I know what receiving this gift for my children would have meant for me. I hope it means the same for them. 

I remember my Nana always having her double-pointed needles on the go with some tinsel-laced yarn working on a stocking whilst chatting. I don't have my Nana to ask how exactly she made each stocking but I do have her tools, some of her needles are still in their original sleeves with their original price tag of a whopping .45¢

Attempting to reverse engineer my stocking wasn't necessarily difficult but it was daunting. I put a lot of pressure on myself to make it perfect, like Nana's. I counted and measured and swatched over and over until I was as close as I could get. I literally counted the stitches in a round and counted rows. And swatched some more, and finally committed to the needles and cast on. I have never checked and rechecked my work as often. 

I had this stocking finished months before I knew the baby's name. I had never attempted to embroider before! I don't have the best penmanship to begin with but I am really happy with how this turned out. 

I think I did my Nana's work justice and she'd be really happy to see her legacy continue. Each stitch was knit the same way, on the same needles as the originals. I'm really proud of this simple stocking for my much-loved niece. 

FO construction truck sweater

I finally finished the sweater for Mr. Lovebug. We'll thats not true, I finished it some time ago but it was warm and then I couldn't get a picture of him wearing it. It's not easy to get a 4 year old to stand still for pictures. Oh well what can you do.

I'm about 75% happy with it. We'll see how it fits him in the fall, I have a feeling I'll end up taking out the collar and re-doing it. It's wonky and ill-fitting. We'll see how much the kid grows in the next few months, I followed the directions except making the sleeve flat for some stupid reason, I probably should have followed my gut instead but what can you do.

I used Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in Gosling and size 5 needles. Or knee-nulls as Nature Baby says.I made the largest size and purposely made it a bit bigger, you know kids grow no matter how hard you try to get 'em to stop.

I'm really happy how the vehicles turned out and I'll probably use the charts again.

I really haven't been knitting much since finishing this guy. My hands are sore, my middle fingers especially are sore and stiff. It feels like I need to crack the knuckles, but I crack (or don't) and stretch and there isn't any relief. Not using my hands this time of year isn't an option, so I do what needs to be done and knitting falls by the way-side. I have two WIPs with no end in sight. Tough life, I know!

WIP Wednesday Just some mittens. Regular old mittens.

I still havent ordered more yarn for Mr. Lovebug's construction truck sweater. Friday, I swear! I have one mitten for my Mother-in-Law almost completed. I'm not really following a pattern, just a chart for the outside. So far, so good. I don't really want to put up at photo because she'll see it, but I will show you the palm-side. Not so sassy, once they're in the mail I'll post a photo of them. They're stranded and will be warm. Warm is what she asked for, warm is what they'll be.

I need to start some baby things for someone. They're due in May, maybe I'll actually get them out on time. Don't hold your breath! My yarn has finally arrived for my undone sweater from Jen Geigley's weekend. Can't wait!

If you follow my instagram, you may have noticed I destroyed my hands yesterday, hence not finishing the thumb and starting the second mitten.

FO from another place sweater for Great Northern KAL

How the heck did I finish a sweater in 10 days?! This is unheard of for me. I worked on this relentless because I'm a crazy person and had this nagging voice in my head saying "you are not going to finish, pick up the pace! You can't make a sweater in 6 weeks." Take that voice of unreason! In true me form I said "oh yeah, I'll show you!" Because I'm a stubborn child. And here we are.

It felt really good to take some time and do something for me. Yes, I knit regularly, but it's always for someone else, which I love to do but doing something that's purely selfish feels pretty darn good sometimes. Almost like a vacation. I definitely skirted my responsibilities and knit while the kids did quiet things breaking my own rules.Tough cookies children!

I really enjoyed every part of this sweater, the directions were simple and straightforward. I had to bug Someone for the third page update. I feel really bad for being a pain whilst they were sick. Sorry lady!

I used a around 850-900 yards, I frankensteined one skein around all the color work and collar. That one skein was both significantly darker and lights than the others. Had I known that I would have ended up with a whole extra skein I wouldn't have bothered, but I couldn't have possibly known that. I used size 7s for the body and 4s for the ribbing. Some of the ladies in the KAL had problems with their cropped version during blocking, I was extra careful while it was wet to keep it from getting all wonky.

Thanks Scribs for taking pictures and chopping my head off in most of them. I hope you enjoy the awkward poses.

Finished! Denali Sweater!

Here it is! It's finished! My Denali Sweater by Brooklyn Tweed out in the wild surrounded by feral children, beautiful snow capped mountains and a dormant berry field. Such a terrible back drop, let me tell you!

This sweater has been out and about a few times. Scribs wore it to work and no one believed I had made it. So there's that. I asked Scribs for comment his response "It's great!" Well ok then. 

This has been finished for a while, but it has been so rainy (and flooded) we couldn't get out to get a good photo until a few days ago. 60 degrees, not a cloud in the sky! 

Overall, I'd say I'm about 90% happy with the finished product. I should have made the ribbing and sleeves smaller, and I'm not crazy about the saddle at the shoulders. But when it's all said and done, I'm not complaining. I used Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in Gosling, size 6 for the body and 5s for the ribs. Next time I'd use 4 or smaller and probably add some stitches for the ribbing. 

I honestly can't believe that it's finished. I feel like I was working on it forever!

Interested in how this all came together? Here's all my wips! (1, 2, 3, & 4)

Wip Wednesday 2 sweaters? what the what!

Soooo I was going to started something for myself. I had had yarn in my basket for two sweaters for ages! Crazy, I know. Then, a certain LoveBug boy asked me for a sweater, you got it kid. He doesn't like the red yarn I picked but too bad! The amount I'll use for the fair isle isn't worth buying something I'll never use the rest of. Tough cookies boy!

My favorite Mother-in-Law asked me for mittens. You got it, lady! Now, of course I could just bang out any old mittens, but that would be boring. I had to make her something a bit sassy. So there you go. I'm certainly not complaining about people asking for knits, I'll gladly do it!

And then I thought about my goals for this year, "Knit something nice for myself." The Great Northern KAL started February first. A KAL is a knit-a-long for you non-knitters. It's my first, pretty fun so far. Anywhoo, I certain SOMEONE twisted my rubber arm. I swear, the knitting peer pressure from this one!

I've started From Another Place, using some on the yarn that was in my basket from 35 million years ago. I wanted to make the cropped version, I've never made or worn a cropped top and wanted to get out of my comfort zone a bit but after really thinking about it, I came to the realization that I will NEVER wear a cropped top, even with high waisted pants the weird post-baby belly button would be right there. No thanks! TMI? Whoops! So I'm making the long version.

I'm just a few days away from starting the color work! It has been so nice out the last 2 days that we've been out and about, no time for stitches! The rain is coming back, so I'll be able to sneak in a few rounds. I'm hoping I will be able to finish by the March 14th deadline but thats a bit of a stretch for me. The colors I'm using are Wild Huckleberry (purple) and African Grey which I'm obsessed with. I love this color way to the point where I'm considering making a fully onesie jump suit and wearing nothing else. I'm kidding.... kind of. The subtle variations in both yarns are perfect! I would consider choosing colors to be... not my strong suit. I am very happy with these two. Alright, thats enough rambling from me, I've got some knitting to do!

What are you working on?

Blue moon Fiber Arts Rocking sock club

I first heard about Blue Moon Fiber Art Rocking Sock club a few years ago after Scribs brought me some of their Socks that Rock yarn back from a trip. It's delightful yarn! The sign-ups were closed that year and I vowed to join the following and then I forgot. Whoops! Finally I said, this would be the year. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, thats ok, I'll fill you in. It's a bi-monthly yarn club, they send at least 1 skein and 2 patterns and sometimes little bits and bobs. Sounds fun right? And the colorways are exclusive. Fancy! I'm into it!

This week I received my first shipmen! Check it out  After the Jump

WIP Wednesday Denali Sweater

We're in the home stretch! I waited until after Christmas to block the front of the Denali, I messed up one of the sleeves and ripped it back, popped it on the needles then started both shoulder shaping decreases at the same time. Is there anything worse the making one sleeve just a touch longer than the other.

I was extra careful this time with the sleeves, measuring and re-measuring every few rows as tedious as it was. Both sleeves are off the needles and blocked, of course I had to rip back one of them, again! Way to not pay attention!
I was so hoping to be done by this month's WIP but that's ok (I don't have anything else lined up... yet)

Up next is grafting the sleeves to the front and back, picking up the collar and doing all the seams and weaving. I still haven't finished any of the ends, in the back of my mind I'm still going to mess it up some how! The closer I get to being finished the more nervous I get that in the last steps I'm going to somehow make on monstrous mistake and have to start all over agin. I think I'm starting to loose it.

Here it is!

I can't believe that this is going to be my last WIP for the Denali Sweater!  (If you want to take a look back, here's part 1, 2, and 3) Coming up, Finished Object status!

wip wednesday toddler hoodie

I've started working on this raglan toddler hoodie  for Nature Baby. I needed something simple to work on while my stress level was through the roof. Nature Baby could always use another hoodie, those kids get so dirty! 

I cast on using left over KnitPicks Brava and decided to double up Cherry Tree Hill's supersock DK in For The King for the ribbing. I am not crazy about the color way of the ribbing. Nature Baby loves it so I can't complain. I've been sitting on two hanks for years, I wanted some color, so why not! I don't think I'll have enough yarn left to make the hood, we'll see! I'm using slightly larger needles to make the size slightly larger than the 24 months size. I'm using size 9s for the body and 7s for the ribbing. Nature baby isn't wearing 24 months/2T, she'll be able wear this sweater next year too. She knows the sweater is for her, any time I pull it out to do some work she says "Sweatshirt, for me?" and she tries to help. She'll be picking up stitches before she's 5, I'm sure.

I'm not usually one to have more than one project on the go, when I look at other people's multiple WIPs I think "How? Why?" but now I get it. I see the light! Check out my other WIP!

What are you working on?

wip Wednesday denali Sweater part 3

Here we are, for the third installment of WIP the Denali Sweater. I've actually made some progress despite having a ridiculously crazy, stressful month. 

As you can see I've nearly finished the front (on the left beside the blocked back). You can see the difference blocking makes, for you non-knitters I might as well be speaking Mandarin. 

I'm still really enjoying this sweater! It's simple enough that I don't have to pay too much attention, thanks in part to using 35 stitch markers. The next row is dividing for the collar and shoulders. I even did all the proper decreases like a big girl. If I have the energy I should be able to finish the front before next weekend. I hope. We'll see, we have a ton going on in the next few weeks. 

I was so excited to be finished one of the sleeves. I worked on it while I was away but in the process I guess I wasn't measuring properly and it was about 4" too long. Good job dumb dumb. I'll have to rip it back once it has dried. At least it's easy to get straight stocking stitches back on the needles. 

For once, I've been keeping track on ravelry and I've used over 1100 yards of yarn. Scribs jokes that he'll unravel the whole thing at which point I may or may not use a knitting needle as a weapon. 

In case you're wondering, here's part 1 and 2. This may be my last WIP for this project!

Getting back to normal

I've been home for a week, our guests left this morning and the water is gone from the yard. There is still a bit of the lake in the field but that's in the ghost river. I'm not worrying about it. We're starting to get back to normal after the week that would cause some to throw a toaster in the bath tub. We're all still sick, various antibiotics are running their course but it's exhausting.
I accomplished nothing in the last two weeks, I had big plans but then life happened. No painting, no finishing the garden. It was underwater after all. Our hose exploded - trying to find a 100 plus hose in November isn't working, Amazon to the rescue.

I haven't been keeping good of track of the egg count for the past two months, we've decided not to force light into the coop to keep up the girls laying and most are having a hard molt. I think we're lucky if we're getting 5 eggs a day, thats down from almost a dozen. The costs have been about the same 2 bags of feed and shavings a month.

The other day, in an attempt to return to the normal routine of things, I emptied the fridge and made turkey soup. It took all day but it was delicious. And bread, I made bread. That's obviously all gone now. I could bake bread all day, everyday, and eat it all resulting in me weighing 7000 lbs.

This week I'm working on a mountain of laundry, dirty house and deck that looks like a hoarder lives here. And it's raining. Hopefully the rain will wash away some of the 4 foot high water line, but I'm not counting on it. Or counting on it not coming back.

This week at A.'s school, they're having a mitten tree. There is a tree in the class room and I assume they kids are going to fill it with mittens that will be donated to kids without. I would have loved to have knit a pair or seven but realistically I won't get them done in time. So again, Amazon to the rescue.

So that's most of what's going on around here.

WIP Denali Sweater part two

Here we go, round two of my Denali sweater by Brooklyn tweed! You can find part 1 here! We have been sick and sick and sick some more around here. I'm amazed that we're all still mostly upright. I play a game of "Allergies or am I getting sick?" almost daily. It's really fun! Here's how you play, wake up with a sore throat and start sneezing 5 or 6 times every 10 minutes. Take a guess, Allergies or sick? Then wait a little while until your nose is completely blocked and still dripping like a faucet. Hmmm which could it be? It's really a great time to be had. I suggest avoiding it at all costs.

And now, on to the WIP.
(Yes, I'm singing Salt N Peppa's push it, but as WIP it because that's what I do!)

This picture, is almost the same spot in the knitting as I was last month, except there is one big difference, I was working on the back last month. PROGRESS! HURRAY! Once again, I'm using 85 stitch markers, it worked for me last time so why mess with a good thing. I put on my big girl pants and used the slant-bind off as per the directions and didn't just go at it willy-nilly. 

The cable pattern is super simple to memorize and work while watching TV, but a tad too difficult to do while falling asleep watching TV. I know my limits and the last thing I want to do is rip back cables and hope to get them back on the needles in the right spot in the pattern. 

As far as I can tell I haven't messed it up yet. I was a bit skeptical until I blocked the back (and of course didn't take a picture), and made sure it was going to fit Scribs. I have yet to weave the ends for the back for the reason above. I can see how it is all going to come together, hopefully I can keep on the no-stupid mistakes path. 

Until next time Denali, I hope I'll be working on sleeves this time next month. 

I do have some non-knitting posts coming up, I swear!