Tricotomania and more

I dragged that box of stuff up from the basement and spread the contents all over the floor …

As you can see there are big chunks of canvas screenprinted in purple and green (also purple and pink) and several batik things. Still in that Rubbermaid bin is some really nice fabric I saw in Italy many many years ago (pre-Tigger, who is now 11) and just had to have some of even though I have no idea what to do with it, and a clean wool blanket with a few mouse holes in it that I thought could be used to make a jacket or something, possibly dyed. Not on the list for today.

Today, I actually cut up a bunch of that screen printed canvas and made some bags. They have no handles. I think I need to go buy some handle stuff like the handles on the other canvas bags that are around here. There is leftover plain canvas but it is pretty stiff and sewing a tube and turning it might be kind of a PITA. You never know, so could shopping for some stuff to make handles with.

  There is the first one, sitting by the sewing machine. The second one is the same except that the side panels are plain white canvas because I didn’t have enough of the screen printed part for all 5 sides. Why I thought it was more important for the bottom to be printed than the sides, I cannot explain. It made sense at the time.

Tomorrow I will tackle the pink and purples stuff (which has circles instead of hexagons) and make a couple more. And decide what to do about handles. And then I might throw out some of the other stuff and maybe decide which stuff is worth doing something with. I do like some of it, but some of the batik things are creative experiments that didn’t work. There is no good reason for me to have them 12 years on, much less having moved them across the ocean in a shipping container.

Praire Poppins had just an inspiring post up yesterday with lists of ideas for handmade gifts for the holidays. I love reading her blog and often wish I could be that relaxed about making things on a regular basis. I’m still in a mode where I feel like that is a “hobby” for my “spare time”. This is nuts, I know. But I’m working on it slowly.

Charlie also had a good post up about the nature of creativity the other day.  He’s addressing a different audience but I think his stages of the creative process make a lot of sense. And they really help those of us who struggle with the “I’m not creative” issue to see what it really looks like and how to nurture it. And yes, I struggle with that, too. I have long thought that I wasn’t creative. Quilting and knitting have really brought me a long way with the creativity but it still feels quite dangerous when I step outside certain frameworks. Designing quilts felt safe because I didn’t have to draw anything but straight sided geometric figures. I’m good at math. I can do that. And I think that gave me the confidence to play with colours and things.

Anyway, the following have been incubating for various lengths of time. Some I just need to go and put into action. Others I need some help with because I don’t actually know what to do next.

Make canvas tote bags. This needs action. Many years ago I did a textile arts class (which is where I met Emily, I think) and I have some heavy canvas that I screen printed for dining room chair seat covers in the basement. Those chairs are long gone and the colours aren’t going to go with my kitchen but I bet they would make good shopping bags.

Make cards with some of my photographs. Yeah, that sounds funny doesn’t it. Me and photographs. But I do have some I took quite a while ago that are interesting close-ups of nature — ice formations, tree bark, etc. I’ve messed around with them a bit in iPhoto and I really like them and they look good printed out. I’ve done a couple of one-off cards but the problem is the size of paper.  This one needs help. Is is possible to get square cards made with digital photos for a reasonable price? And how? Or can you buy supplies and print them (probably not ideal)? I don’t even know what to ask at a printers to get a decent price. Some look best cropped square but there are others that would be best as rectangles. I’ve even wondered about the viability of printing enough to sell.

When I go down to the basement to find that canvas I suspect I will also find any number of other bits of batik, screen printing and whatnot from that class (we did it for several terms; it was fun). I should really think of something to do with that stuff, too. That will really need some incubation though. I think I’ve always worried they wouldn’t wash well but I have used a couple of the batik pieces either as patches for Freya’s pants (when she was smaller) or as coasters and they seem to hold up just fine. So maybe some creative appliqué is in order.

I also know that there is an only-just-started baby quilt in a basket somewhere (the baby it was originally intended for is now 2.5 years old). Also a Mariners Compass quilt square (probably cushion sized, but I’m not sure) that I started before I  moved to Canada (so that would be 2002).

And I must knit baby hats. Friends are having babies in December. And toddler hats. That 2.5 year old likes my hats.

When I went to pick up the rest of the purple wool the other day, I got distracted by a new shipment of Fleece Artist yarns. I’ve admired their Celtic vest for a while but there was never a colourway that I liked. This time they had a really nice on with a deep burgundy, turquoisey blue, yellow and orange. (Which I can’t see on their website. And they don’t put colour names on the skeins because there is so much variation.) I thought it would look great with my burgundy cords. So I snatched it up. Only later did I discover that there was only enough yarn for the small size. I am not a small size.

Throw into this mix that  for the past few days I have felt like crap. I’ve had a cold and that has mostly meant that I have had no energy, shivers, and have needed to just lie on the sofa for long stretches of the day. Reading tired my eyes out pretty quickly. So knitting something on 7mm needles with a stitch pattern that was a little bit interesting but not complicated seemed like a good idea. In this enfeebled mental state, I decided to just cast on and go and see what happened.

Well, the obvious happened. I knit the back and about half of one front and realized that I wasn’t going to have enough yarn for a large vest. Still living in hope, I got out a damp cloth and my steam iron and blocked what I’d done. Nope. There was nowhere to make any yarn savings. On top of that, this is a short vest and I really could do with making it longer. So I’ve ripped it out and am in the process of skeining it up on the niddy-noddy to spritz and let dry to get rid of the kinks.

My options are: (1) buy another skein and knit the large size with more length. This pattern is knit from 2 balls alternating so even getting a coordinating colourway would work just fine. But it’s $40 a skein and I’m not sure I want and $80 vest. (2) knit something else with the yarn, like a stole or a poncho-type thing. The stitch pattern is really nice, flatters the multi-coloured yarn, and is quite squooshy. I think if I knit a bit rectangle and then attach one short end to the opposite end of the long side it could work. I’d have something to wear with my cords to keep warm and my hands would still be free (a stole would mean forever adjusting it).

I think I’ll probably go for option 2, not least because I don’t want to go back to the yarn store. And I really should knit some more of Jaali. Speaking of which, I have started. It starts with a cable and hem that you knit and then pick up stitches along the side of. So I only have 17 stitches on the needles. I’ve done about 4 or 5 of the cables. Now that this cold seems to have moved into its end phase (more stuffy but also more energy) maybe I can cope with the little needles again. But first I must finish untangling and reskeining my Fleece Artist…

Oh, and I might look for something suitable at Rhinebeck to knit the darn vest in.

Sometimes I wonder whether new readers of the blog make a funny WTF face when they see the blog title. I know some of my knitting buddies still read here but I also worry sometimes that they might not care so much about all the homeschooling stuff. I’ve been in a knitting funk. I did those stranded hats when I was in Europe and some mittens. (I’d link to those blog posts but I know the photos got lost in the move from Typepad.)

I have an almost finished sweater (this one; there are other posts after that one, in the knitting category, that give some of the backstory; I like the fact that the year doesn’t show up in the date of the post but it is at least 2 years ago) in the basket in the living room that brings up all kinds of negative feelings when I even think about picking it up again. I had such great dreams for that sweater and then the sleeves were too long (waaaaay too long) and I took out the sleeves and then I tried it on and it seemed to big and I took back a bit at the shoulder and restarted the sleeves (top down, picking up from around the armhole) and … well it still sits there. Beautiful cushy yarn. I think maybe I overthought it and should have just knit something straight from the pattern.

Hanami was great. It reminded me that I love knitting lace. And I got lots of compliments on it when I wore it to church a couple of weeks ago. And I’ve done some socks. For my dad and for a friend. They were both very appreciative. And looking through some of the photos I realize I’ve also done that wrap sweater for myself, a baby sweater for a friend, and the little vest for Tigger. But I haven’t been inspired.

And then Twist Collective came out. I bought two patterns. And then didn’t do anything about either of them. The whole idea of starting a project that might go horribly wrong like the unfinished sweater in the basket seems to have been holding me back. But the other day I went to the LYS to look for yarn. I took some patterns with me that I thought I might like to knit and looked at all the yarn in the shop several times. Picked it up and felt it. Considered it.

The only thing that really spoke to me was some Lang Merino Superwash. I wasn’t sure if the gauge was right for Jaali but it looked close. And then I had a total freeze about colour. But I looked and felt and considered. And walked out empty-handed.

Emily is also starting Jaali and posted about her yarn decisions the other day. That prompted me to look up the ball band gauge on the recommended yarn and realize it is the same as that on the Lang. I considered colour a bit more and was still stuck, but realized that if I really want to make it purple, I just need to go get some grey wool fabric and make another pair of the wonder-pants (I have a pattern that fits great and looks great and I even modified it to put decent pockets in it.). I have been thinking about making grey wool pants anyway.

So today I went back to the LYS and stared at the Lang and squeezed it and contemplated colour. There was a great red (only 3 balls) but I already have a lot of red tops and even a great red Manos de Uraguay sweater that I wear a lot in the winter. I seriously considered a couple of shades of orange. I bought an orange t-shirt this summer and I think it looks okay on me but I don’t think I’m ready to dive into orange for a sweater. And there was a really nice plum/eggplant colour (ha, I notice it is officially called “aubergine”). I knit a sweater in some Jo Sharp cotton in that colour a few years ago and wore it lots. I still do sometimes. It’s a great colour for me. And I don’t really have that many purple tops (partly because I can only wear them with my jeans these days; my grey pants are all too big or too dressy).

I bought purple. They only had 10 balls and I need 15, but the other store had 5 more and I can probably pick them up tomorrow or Monday.

And I knit a swatch. A good big swatch. I decided on 3.5mm needles because the pattern gauge is a bit tighter than the ball band guage. I cast-on what should be enough for a 6 inch swatch if I get gauge (plus a couple of stitches each side for a garter stitch border) and knit what should be enough for a 6 inch swatch (plus garter borders). I just measured it and it is 15.5 cm by 16 cm inside the borders. That’s pretty darn close. Now I’m going to wash it and see what happens.

… several days later …

It grew. So I knit another swatch on 3.25 mm needles. This on is 23 stitches and 32 rows to 4″. I’m calling that close enough. Not least because I don’t have a 3 mm circular. And because the really crucial thing is going to be the row gauge on the cables. I’m still undecided on how much ease but will probably err on the side of too little since my stitch gauge is going to make it come out a tiny bit larger and because I have learned from experience that that is the way to err. Fitted is good.

Maybe I’ll go cast on now…

I posted an in progress post about this stole a while back. Searching for that link, I discovered that this yarn was delivered on September 24 last year so that’s not bad, considering I didn’t take it to Europe with me. Taking advantage of the fact that Tigger is away at camp, the Hanami Stole is blocking on her bed.

This is an asymmetric pattern and I couldn’t get a good shot of the whole thing so these two photos show it from each end. One end is meant to represent cherry blossom falling and the other end is based on Japanese Sashiko textile patterns. The geometric end has a beaded cast-on. The other end has a ruffle. I knit it in Zephyr, colour garnet (or ruby).

Here are some close ups of each end so you get a better sense of the stitch pattern. I really like it. And the yarn was wonderful. I seem to have quite a bit of one ball left, so I might have to knit a scarf or something. I have a whole batch of lace patterns that I ordered ages ago so should have something nice.

I initially really resisted knitting lace. I liked the look of it but couldn’t imagine what I’d do with it. I actually started with a stole in aran weight yarn that I gave to Mat’s mom for use in their conservatory (which isn’t very warm in the winter). Then I knit a shawl for my own mom, on the principle that she couldn’t complain it was old lady-ish because she is an old lady. I gave it to her for her 78th birthday, if I recall. She loves it. But then I just dove in and knit lace shawls. And I wear them. They are surprisingly warm, despite the holes, and they can be an elegant addition to my wardrobe. In the summer, I don’t even care if I need to be elegant, they are a good thing to take in case it gets a bit chilly later.

I would give them away, and have, though I always worry that folks will want to wash them and then they need to be blocked again. I generally suggest not washing them. Airing them outside (wool is particularly good at letting go of smells if hung out to air) if necessary. For scarves, I’ve included washing instructions that suggest stretching out flat to dry, making sure to open up the pattern.

Lace requires concentration to knit, so not good for the bus or sitting chatting to friends, but it is very relaxing. Well, I think it is, in kind of a meditative way. You have to focus your mind. But as I was finishing this, I did listen to the 2 free lectures on the Ancient Origins of the Olympic Games from the Teaching Company (very interesting; go ahead and download it yourself) and the introductory lecture to the Victorian Britain course I bought the other day.

Other knitting projects that I’m considering include Jaali and Come Together from the Twist Collective (HT Yarn Harlot). Though I should finish that damned sweater that is on the needles and not quite turning out how I imagined first…

Cadenza by Estelle. 80% merino, 20% tussah silk.

I saw the cover pattern on the summer Knitty and thought “ooh, Tigger would love that”.  I went and got some yarn while I was out yesterday.

I have been in a bit of a knitting funk recently but I’m starting to get back into the swing. First up a Finished Object:

Friends of ours in Victoria have a new baby boy. Since January. It’s about time I knitted him something. I went searching through the stash and found some Mission Falls cotton. I modified a pattern from Debbie Bliss’s Baby Knits for Beginners, using a garter rib and adding stripes. Some parts of this were knit several times because I did goofy things like forgot to divide for the armholes (I knit the body in one piece), or to add an extra stripe to the sleeves so the beige yarn would go far enough. The sizing on the pattern was bizarre. This is apparently the 6 month size but it is pretty roomy. Now someone just has to get it in the mail.

BTW, if you are thinking of learning to knit, learn well from books, and have a baby to knit for, that Debbie Bliss book would be an ideal manual. The projects done in order would teach you one new skill per project. The instructions are excellent with good illustrations. And it has the best instructions on seaming that I’ve seen.

Next up, a lace project that I bought the materials for before our Europe trip. Before one of my recent trips, Mat asked if I’d packed some knitting and I realized that I hadn’t. I looked at the sock yarn stash and was uninspired (it is pretty small). And then remembered this project. So I got started. All that time in airports and planes has meant substantial progress. I’m really enjoying it. And the folks sitting next to me in those various locations have been suitably impressed.

That is how far I am… Right through the basketweave section and 75 rows into the cherry blossoms (much of that is over the top of the railing).

A detail of the basketweave pattern.

This is the Hanami stole. Click through to see how it will look finished. I’m not much of a baby pink person so am doing it in Zephyr Wool/Silk, colour ruby (I think). I think the yarn called for in the pattern might be a bit thicker. I’m using 3 mm needles and it is producing a nice fabric. We’ll see what size it is when it is finished and blocked but I suspect it might be a bit smaller than the pattern due to that change.

One of my friends has requested some socks so I need to go shop for sock yarn. The stole is lovely but not really conversational knitting. I’m thinking about  more lace though. I do love knitting lace.

Ok, Em, you can get up off the floor now. Yes, you are at my blog.

Sarah B. posted a video today with instructions on how to make a cute little handbag out of an old book with a cool cover. (Someone get some CPR for those who think that cutting out the pages of a book to make a handbag should be a capital offense.) I bet there are good candidates at the thrift shop.

Anyway, I’m not a big user of handbags, particularly not cute little ones (if you can’t get a book and my knitting in it, it is useless to me) but I’m sure some of you are. And I bet teen girls would find this project a win-win: cool craft and cute handbag.

Have fun. I apologize for all the heart palpitations

On the assumption that eventually the snow will melt and the temperature will climb to “hot”, we have started planning Tigger’s summer wardrobe. The other day we got out the summer stuff and checked what fit and what didn’t and what she had and what she needed.

One major finding was that she has about a dozen t-shirts that fit. The problem is, I know she doesn’t wear them much. She doesn’t really like a standard boxy T. So, I ordered Generation T from the library. It came today and we’ve been transforming Tigger’s summer wardrobe into one that she’ll actually enjoy wearing.

First up a plain pink t-shirt. I helped her shape the side seams and then she cut the neck and sleeves to work better with the new fitted style. After rummaging through the quilt-fabric box, she added an applique.

Altogether a much more girly top. I can see her wearing this a lot. We used this one as a guide to refit another t-shirt with a design on the front.

Next up her “Species at Risk” t-shirt. She loves to wear sleeveless tops in the summer and has grown out of most of hers. A flick through the book gave us a few ideas for creating some and we picked this style.

This one also had the side seams taken in to fit better and prevent gaping in the chest.

Friends of ours gave her a t-shirt with a very pretty, if ironic, screen-print design. (Friends who know Bristol may get a kick out of the “severn beach” logo.) But boxy doesn’t get worn. So we went for a kind of girly, punk style. I think we cut too many strips off the bottom for strings but it isn’t too, too short.

Before: After:

I don’t have a picture of our last creation but we took a too small tie-dyed tank top and cut it off under the arms. We then took a worn out t-shirt of Mat’s (it was navy blue but looks more grey now) and did the same. The big t-shirt was gathered and sewn onto the little one. We then folded over the tie-dyed bit and sewed it down over the seam to make a double width wide band at the top, and cut off the bottom part to make a cute short skirt. The too-small tank actually makes a good tight band around her hips.

There is still a stack of t-shirts in the living room to be transformed tomorrow or another day. Tigger was really excited and she did all the sewing (on the machine, which she is quite comfortable with). And I’m glad that all those t-shirts will actually be worn.

The sweater is finished. I even bought ribbon and sewed it on before I went away last weekend so I could wear it. It is very cozy. On the weekend I put a pin at the bottom of the V to keep me decent. It looks fine that way but I could also buy some nice camisoles to wear under it.

The pattern is Otis from Knitty. Modifications included lengthening the sleeves and adding about a 2″ band of seed/moss stitch at the cuff (I knit them top down and just tried it on to judge length. The sweater relaxed a bit with washing so they are a bit longer than I thought. It looks good with the cuff turned up as well.) and lengthening the body below the waist. I knit that downwards, too, and wished I had started with a provisional cast on. I increased outwards from the waist a bit, too. I did all of that in seed/moss stitch and I think it might have worked better longer. I failed to account for the ribbon bringing it in a bit. It was knit in Jo Sharpe Silk Road Aran Tweed.