A Few Sheep Shy of a Farm

Yesterday I got a skein of Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick for a quick hat that I needed to make as a gift . . . I don’t knit with LB very often and rarely use anything that requires size 13 needles . . . but this hat was QUICK!

Last-minute Hat Pattern

Size: Will fit approx. 21″ to 23″ head 

Materials: 1 skein LB Wool Ease Thick and Quick, size 13 needles and a darning needle.

Notes: I knit this hat flat since I only had 1 circular needle that was too long for the size of the hat and then I seamed it up.  The whole thing really only took a few hours to make and seam.  You could easily knit this pattern in the round instead . . . just leave off the seam stitches and work the decreases as p2tog instead of K2tog . . .

Directions: Cast on 50 stitches (48 if knitting circular) For flat knitting, alwasy slip the first stitch and knit the last stitch, every row.  Work in K2, P2 Ribbing for 5 rows.  Next row knit all stitches.  Resume K2, P2 ribbing for another 9 rows.  Next row work a Right twist cable into each of the K2s.  Work 3 more rows k2, P2 ribbing then repeat cable row.  Work those 4 rows until hat measures 8 inches from the all knit row (it will be the bottom edge once you turn the brim). 

Decreases: Next wrong side row: Sl 1, *k2tog, p2, k2, p2* repeat across row and end K1.  Work next row in pattern, crossing cables if it is a cable row.  Wrong side row: Sl 1, *K1, p2, k2tog, p2* repeat across row, ending K1.   Right side: Working in established pattern, work K2tog into every other K2 across row.  Wrong side: Working in established pattern, p2tog into remaining p2 pairs.  Right side: K2tog, k1 across.  Wrong side: P2tog across.  Continue decreasing in this manner until approx 10 stitches remain. 

Finishing: Cut a very long tail on yarn to weave through remaining stitches and to seam hat with.  Thread yarn needle and pulling yarn behind stitches to the other end ot the row, run yarn through remaining stitches, removing them from knitting needle as you go.  Pull yarn tightly throught stitches to close top of hat.  Working from top down: use mattress stitch to seam hat.  Stitch to the all knit row then put yarn through to other side, turn brim edge up and seam that from the right side as well. Weave ends.

Baby update

I realized the other day I haven’t said much about the new baby for a while.  Things are progressing nicely with this pregnancy.  We’ve moved away from all the miserable First Trimester stuff for the most part, though I still get a migraine about once a week.  I’ve got a little more energy than before and I’m not sick to my stomach all the time.  Last month I actually gained the 4 lbs they recommend gaining . . . a pound a week.   I’ve had several other people (who aren’t pregnant) tell me they gained that much over Thanksgiving as well. . . .

I’ve also been able to feel the baby move for a few weeks now.  At first it was a very subtle little flutter that I would catch in the odd moments when I was sitting or lying very still.  Now the movements are getting stronger and I notice them several times a day on average.  She still isn’t quite big or strong enough to  be felt from the outside . . . that will be another month or so.

I’ve been doing a few things to get ready . . . I’ve been through most of the boxes of baby stuff that are in the storage area and sorted the things that we will need.  We’re using a few of the clothes and things from Mimmo but most of the clothes are actually from my nieces.  We’ve got most or what we’ll need for the first year worth of sizes; though if she grows like her big brother, that will only last about the first 9 months!  I’ve got the 0-3 stuff in the house, in a box under his bed, ready for a final washing and to go into the bureau (once we get her one!) and the small cloth diapers are ready.  I wanted to be sure that I had all the heavy lifting, the sorting through boxes etc done before I’m the size of a house and I’m feeling like we’re in pretty good shape there. 

Since she and her big brother are sharing a room which has already been decorated for a baby we don’t have much to do in terms of the nursery other than getting a bureau and setting up the crib which is all way less than the major rennovations (plastering, paint and paper) we had to do last time around. 

The biggest thing I have planned in terms of getting ready for this little one is probably the knitting I’ve got planned for her.  I’m 1/2 way through a blanket and have the yarn for a second one.  I’ve also got yarn for several sweaters that I’m going to knit her; small, light lacy sweaters for in the AC next summer and bigger, heavier sweaters for next winter . . . I’m just waiting until I finish up the gifts I’m working on before I really get started.

Father & Son Chunky Cable Hats, started November 12th, 2007, finished November 30th?

Pattern: My own, will be online soon 
Yarn: Sugar Maple Merino’s Bulky Natural Brown
Needles:
Dimensions: Small is for 20 – 21 inch head; Large is for approx. 23 inch head
Would I knit it again? Definately!

Greensboro Squares

Looks like our squares have arrived.  Laura is reporting a total of well over 3000 squares at the moment.  Looks like a lot of folks in that town are going to be a whole lot warmer this winter than they might have  otherwise been.   What I’m wondering is this, once you turn on the flow of something like squares for a project, will it actually stop anytime after the deadline she gave or will squares keep arriving at her house for weeks or months afterward? Should be interesting to see.

Life

On Wednesday I found myself headed for the dentist’s office.  See, on Tuesday I decided to go ahead and eat a tootsie roll from the little guys treats from a recent birthday party.  He doesn’ t get them yet and rather than throw them away . . . . yeah, very bad idea.   The darned thing sucked the filling out of one of my teeth! So, off to the dentist to have my tooth filled.  I’d forgotten just how much fun that can be. 

And the worst part? I didn’ t have any travel knitting ready! I did take a stitch dictionary, yarn and needles but everything I tried to do to start the scarf I want to make just wasn’t working.  It did keep me busy, but I found up frogging 4 attempts.

Knitting

Has been slow lately.  I’ve actually started a scarf (see above) that I decided to do as a series of Granny Squares. The yarn is Louisa Harding’s Kimono Angora and I love it.  So soft and fluffy! I’m working up these little granny squares in color #8 and once I have a bunch done I may get some of the solid “Rice” color to make  few more squares and for the edging.  I think this is going to be a lovely soft scarf for the fall if I can get it done in time. 

The nice thing about the little granny squares I’m doing is that it only takes a few minutes to do one here and there . . . and since lately that is all I seem to have . . .

I haven’t worked on any of the bigger projects for days.  I want to start a pair of socks. I’ve got the yarn all picked out . . . and I know I want to make stocking length socks, but I’m torn between knitting them in someone else’s pattern and writing up a new one of my own.  I know I should be working on some of the design ideas I’ve had recently and pretty much every project I do now should be of my own design . . . but sometimes you just want something to knit without having to do all the thinking . . . . know what I mean?

Perhaps the answer is to cast on two different socks? One of my own design to work on when I feel able and one that I can just knit away at without having to pay attention?

I also need to start the sock for my [Hogwarts Sock Swap] pal but I have to dye up the yarn first. I know what I’d like to socks to look like and have taken into account my swap pal’s preferences for finished socks . . . I actually attempted to dye yarn the other day but I’ve had 3 migraines this past week (part of the reason for the lack of posts) and just didn’t get the colors I wanted.  Oh well, I’m sure we’ll find something to do with the yarn.

And have you any idea just how difficult it is to take sock photos when your model is only 2 years old? One step from impossible! Here are some attempts to take pattern photos of the “Grow with me” Socks:

We’ll have to try again to see if we can get some where the feet aren’t moving . . . perhaps during a nap this weekend.

Once I have the photos I have a bit of tweaking to do on the pattern and then I’ll make it available as a free pattern.  The idea with these socks is that they are knit in such a way that by unraveling the toes from time to time you may be able to lengthen them enough to get about 3 shoe sizes by just reknitting the toe rather than making new socks every few months, hence the name.  Our little guy loves his and I’ve had to take them back a few times and remind him he can’t actually keep them until Mommy is done taking pictures of them.  Now if only I could get him to understand that they’d be his if he’d just hold still for a decent photo shoot!

Chicken Update

The coop is nearly finished and its a good thing. Every time I go check on the little buggers they are all over Dom’s workshop! They simply won’t stay in their enclosure anymore!  I spent about 8 hours over the past two days painting the inside of the coop.  Dom didn’t think it was absolutely necessary, but I think it will make cleaning it later easier if the wood is nice and sealed up. I’m almost done, just a few touch ups and one more coat on the floor and the inside paint will be done.  He still needs to do the roof shingles, paint the outside, rig the cage inside and put in the doors.  We’re hoping to have it finished on Sunday and move them to their new digs. 

Bathroom Update

At the moment the bathroom is sitting.  We’re waiting to hear back from the folks that make the cement that didn’t level.  They sent someone to look at it the other day and were going to run their own tests on some of the same batch of stuff.  It looks like perhaps we got a bad batch of it.  If that is the case they may do something for us.  I suspect we may get a refund on what it cost and possibly enough new, correctly mixed, stuff to fix the floor.  Dom is hoping they will send someone to chip out the old stuff and put the new stuff in for him.  I’m thinking that is less likely.  Here’s hoping we have a finished bathroom before the snow flies!

I just signed up for this and think it will be a lot of fun. For the first round its only open to 25 people and you have to dye a skein of sock yarn to swap with someone. I think I can do that ; )

I actually love doing swaps, I love sending stuff off and I love getting things in the mail (and yes, that is part of why my stash is sooo incredibly large) but its fun! And hey, there are worse things I could be doing, right?

Another dye day come and gone

I dyed yarn 3 days this past week and still have some hanging on the clothes line in the back yard drying . . . I’m just really hoping it doesn’t rain! I actually had help with the dyeing (and tons of skeining) this time as A is on summer vacation and available. She’s going away in August so I really only have help for July so we are planning to do a lot of dyeing the next couple of weeks. . . . We’ve worked on batches of the colorways that are for the LYS and worked on creating some of the new colorways that will be up this Fall. I really like some of what we came up with . . . . I’m hoping to bring the lot with me to knitting on Monday night so I can see what some other knitters think of it.

Designs on designing

The design bug has bitten me again. I’ve got a few more inches of baby toddler sock to finish up and then I’m going to start working on the next design. I’ve got a list of the things I want to work on and both fortunately and unfortunately its been growing fast than I can get to things lately. Now if I can just hold onto the momentum behind each idea long enough to get to it . . .

Tomorrow is nuts here, we’re having brunch “in town” with some friends who are passing through from out of state on their way to pick up the kids from camp . . . and then we are headed north to my niece’s first birthday party! Then Monday, A is coming back and we’re planning to dye up a whole bunch more yarn . . . off to finish that sock!

Over the past few days I’ve been reworking my plan for the business. As part of that plan I’m simplifying the number of yarns and colorways that I’ll have on Inspirations Yarn’s website. This is partly because now that I’m doing a second whole set of colorways to use for wholesale clients I feel I need to be more organized and efficient. So, in order to make room for the new colorways I’m working on I’m having a gigantic sale! Almost everything I have in stock is now 25% off! Quantities are limited and its first come, first served . . . I’ll update the availability as often as I can.

We’ve also just added a new heading under our pattern section. We’re now offering free patterns! To kick things off we now have a free, downloadable pdf version of the Fingerless Cabled Mitts, designed by Sheila Macdonald, that were previously featured as Mystery Kit #4. I’m also working on a pair of Toddler socks which will also be offered as a free pattern just as soon as I finish the 2nd sock and get it all written up etc, hopefully over this coming weekend.

And we’re working on converting our current IY patterns to pdf format so we’ll be able to send them to you by email instead of regular mail, though both options will be available if you still prefer a paper copy . . .

There are more things in the works so stay tuned!