Discombobulation Notes

Crafts Update

2009-05-22T15:59:00.004-05:00

Besides my Maryland Sheep and Wool haul, I have a few other projects in the works and a major completion.

Bamboo Clapotis

Pattern: Clapotis
Yarn: South West Trading Co. Bamboo, 3 skeins
Needles: US Size 6 (4.0mm)

I added in an extra increase section and worked a total of 21 repeats in the straight section. This one nearly killed me - I had to really force myself to work on it and get it finished. I don't really like knitting flat and this is one of those projects that doesn't need as much attention as a lace pattern, but it's not mindless knitting either. I did find this handy little pdf that has a nice chart where you can check off each row as you work it - Clapotis Chart.

Design-a-long: Lacy Tank

This is my first Knitty Keen knit-a-long, designing a lacy tank with bust shaping. I just posted the first installment which talks about some of the why's of designing your own and a bit on swatching so pop on over to take a look - Design-a-long: Lacy Tank.

Lacy Shrug Cardi
I bought a couple of balls of linen/viscose blend over the weekend with the idea of making some sort of cardigan/shrug. I made a swatch since the ball band had no needle suggestions and the swatch at my LYS seemed way too loose for my taste.

The yarn seems very happy on my US Size 4 (3.5mm) needles, but I still needed a pattern. Monday morning was spent playing with several ideas, but nothing jumped out at me until I started surfing Ravelry and found a pattern from the Spring '09 IK.

I didn't renew my subscription to IK this year and when I did a quick scan of the spring issue, nothing really caught my eye - I definitely have to look at these things more closely in future. The Whisper Cardigan definitely fits the bill for what I want - a cardigan with a shrug neckline. The Ravelry pattern page has a link to the designer's website with a schematic of the cardi, so while I do intend to purchase the magazine once I track down a copy, I don't actually need it to make one. I have to do major mods anyway due to my body shape, so I'm taking what I know about my shape and the info I learned from knitting up two Mia Shrugs to make this.

Wooly Goodness

2009-05-22T15:05:00.003-05:00

I was able to make it down to Maryland Sheep and Wool this year and here are long overdue pictures of my haul this year!

Zeilinger Wool Co.

Fingering weight wool/alpaca mix

Light Fingering Wool/Alpaca
(this picture does not do justice to the depth of color on these skeins)

Brooks Farm Yarn

Solo, Sport/DK weight 100% Wool

I Love Yarn

DK Weight 100% Rayon
(another where the picture doesn't do the yarn justice)

Koigu Wool Designs

Lots and lots of KPPM mill-ends

subdued grouping

brights

Not a bad haul. Everything has a specific project in place for it. In the interest of full disclosure I will admit that the KPPM was just bought willy-nilly, but since it's fingering weight it doesn't count ;).

cross-posted on Knitty Keen

Quicky Crafts Update

2009-04-16T14:03:00.003-05:00

I proudly present the first Orange Diamond Sock (aka Devon from Cookie A's Sock Innovations).

I actually did this one pretty much as written - a first for me when it comes to socks. I did have to add another pattern repeat to accommodate my wide feet and worked the heel flap for three inches for my high-insteps. I learned a lot - how to pick-up and knit (something that I've been doing ass backwards all this time or avoiding outright) and how the heel-flap/turn/gusset all work together to affect fit. I enjoyed doing top-down and can definitely see the appeal, but the worry of running out of yarn before I'm done is probably enough to keep me doing toe-up. I only did two pattern repeats on the cuff and wanted to do at least one more but I was too afraid I'd run out of yarn in the middle of the foot (note - I probably had enough to do another two repeats). With some luck I'll get the second one done in enough time for MDS&W.

The last of the Patchghan Patches

Be sure to head on over to Knitty Keen for a handy reminder to not forget the crochet hook and a tutorial for sewing on nearly indestructible toy limbs.

TTFN!

Pics abound!

2009-04-16T14:00:00.001-05:00

Easter moments

If only it was always this easy to get him to sleep.

MacGyver Moment #247

2009-04-16T13:55:00.003-05:00

When you are in the middle of Andean plying, which you haven't done in at least a year and consequently wrap the singles way too tightly around your hand to the point that your middle finger turns an alarming shape of purple, don't worry - just grab the baby's handy ring-stacker and viola, instant nostepinne!

This is the conversation that should be taking place...

2009-04-15T20:26:00.005-05:00

during Autism Awareness Month and it pains me that it's not happening yet.

Glad that MLS is good for something

2009-04-13T23:26:00.003-05:00

walking to my parent's house on Sunday
Michael: Mommy, can you read that number for me? (house number written in cursive)
John: It says 321, Michael.
Michael: (in amazement) You can read numbers too, Daddy?

Rainbows and Sakura

2009-04-05T16:40:00.005-05:00

I've been actually bringing the camera along with me most of the time recently. Granted, it's because I've been taking lots of pictures of knitting techniques for the Knitty Keen blog, but the side benefit is pictures of the kids a little more often.

Here's the double rainbow we were lucky enough to see on Friday evening.

The clouds kept rolling overhead while we were at the park and we were waiting for the downpour to start any moment. It did start to rain while we were walking home then the clouds rolled and the sun came out treating us to this.

Philadelphia Cherry Blossom Festival - Sakura Sunday

I awoke to Michael bounding into our room this morning telling me how excited he was to be going to the Cherry Blossom Festival. He also shared his excitement with everyone (and I do mean everyone) we bumped into on our way to Fairmount Park. I went with Alex tucked into a sling last year on a windy gray day but this year we had picture perfect weather. Bright sun with enough of a breeze so it wasn't too hot. Michael enjoyed the drummers and his fruit salad while I found a neat bento box for him and these super cool and super cute little zipper pulls.

John poked fun at me for quite some time afterwards because he said I actually squealed when I opened the package and was bouncing when I was asking him for more money to get another one. The stand where we bought them from has a shop in town which I will definitely be visiting in the future (for the curious - Omoi).

Alex slept through the entire thing, but we got him up to eat before the bus ride home and managed to get Michael to stay still long enough for a quick family picture.

Click on through...

2009-03-28T23:37:00.003-05:00

to Knitty Keen to see my first technique write-up, or how I learned to make my entrelac prettier.

Before:

After:

Someone found the camera cable (Crafts Update)

2009-03-25T13:49:00.003-05:00

...and finally got around to downloading/uploading pictures of what she's been up to.

Mia Shrug

Pattern: Mia Shrug
Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece
US Size 7 Needles

I did this (*gasp*) almost exactly as written, with the exception of the 2x2 rib along the collar and bottom edge. It's a very nice pattern with info for knitting flat and in the round in addition to customizing your sizing. The only thing I would change would be info on adding ease. As written, it makes a close fitting garment (no ease), so if you want something a little looser around the upper arm be sure to take that into account.

Chudley Cannons Lunch Bag

Pattern: Brown Bag
Lambs Pride Bulky
US Size 13 Needles

Another pattern I pretty much did as written (I know, what is the world coming to?). I had planned to do a complete I-cord bind-off around the top edge and flap, but I ran out of yarn after doing the flap so I opted for a simple bind-off for the top edge and it worked beautifully - no horrendous flaring. This is a pattern I definitely plan to use again.

Troll Patchghan Squares

These are for an afghan that's going to be raffled off to support a message board I'm a member of.

Pattern: Original Design
Louet Gems Opal (green) and Knit Picks Kettle-Dyed Sock Yarn (Purple)
US Size 1.5 Needles

It looks really, really cool - but it's double knit with fingering-weight yarn on tiny needles and was a tremendous pain to knit.

These are the rest of what I've gotten done so far. Lots of playing around with stash yarns, patterns and textures. Lots of fun to do and something I'm going to keep up so I can make my own blanket to donate to Project Linus.

In other, non-pictured news I dusted the cobwebs off my Green Thread socks and turned the heel only to realize that the instep is really a bit too snug so I'm going to have to frog it and start all over again with more instep stitches and a few more gusset increases. I love the way the yarn is looking in this pattern, but travelling rib is not my favorite thing to knit so it's probably going to be put away for a bit in favor of something a bit more satisfying - most likely the mate to my Monkey Sock.

I also have finished my first ever garment for myself - a heavily modified Dream in Color Shrug. I ended up changing the sleeves quite a bit, added a collar from Knitting on the Edge, adjusting it to fit my line-backer shoulders, and of course worked it in the round. Now all I have to do is get it, a basin and my wool wash in the same place at the same time and we'll be good to go.

I'm getting ready to begin my mad dash of Easter knits next, hopefully I'll be able to actually get done what I'd like to this year. It shouldn't be too hard considering I have a whole bunch of half-finished things from last year's attempt at being super-knitter. I also need to knock out some sort of sweater for Alex. I started a February Baby Sweater for him, got about 2/3's into it and the realized that I don't have enough of yarn to finish it so it'll be frogged and re-done with a contrasting yoke, cuffs and hem. His Birthday BSJ needs to be heavily blocked and I'm still not sure it'll even fit him so that may be frogged as well and re-knit on bigger needles with some contrasting colors tossed in to make up the difference in yardage.

That's about it for the moment. TTFN!

More pics than you can shake a stick at

2009-03-25T12:46:00.002-05:00

if you are so inclined to shake sticks at pictures...

He really did fall asleep this way

and Michael, as always, getting in on the action

just shy of 14 months

pure ham

where there's one...

the other...

isn't far behind

Must have....

2009-03-18T19:35:00.003-05:00

This definitely falls into something that is needed to live.

Sock Innovation: Knitting Techniques & Patterns for One-of-a-Kind Socks

Here's a nice little review of it.

Yay!

Good to know (teaser crafts update)

2009-02-27T21:02:00.004-05:00

I finished knitting a bag to be felted and gifted tomorrow this afternoon and took a couple of short-cuts that have really worked to my advantage.

I love using bulky yarn and size 13 needles!
The size 13's aren't too huge for the bulky so you don't end up with that really loose knitting and the felting resulted in a super-thick fabric. I'm still going to be doing lots of stuff with worsted and size 10's, but the bulky is definitely coming out for projects that need to stand up to a lot of wear and tear.

Applied I-cord rights all wrongs!
I've done several bags with flaps and no matter how closely I watch the felting, it always ens up a wavy mess that won't lay nicely no matter what I do. This time I slipped the first and last stitch of every row on the flap and then did a 3-stitch applied i-cord on the three exposed sides. Nice, flat flap with straight sides!

Don't forget the simple bind-off!
The opening of the bag is another place where the felted fabric always goes all wonky on me. My original plan was to do the applied i-cord all around the opening and the flap but I ran out of yarn (seriously - I have like 5" left). The only other time I've ever used a simple bind-off is on a linen-stitch towel because a plain bind-off makes the hem all wavy because the stitches are so compressed. I was seriously afraid it was going to be way too tight, but again, perfection! I have a bag that for once does not flare at the the top and become and unruly, wavy mess.

.

That is all - I have felt to shave and another knitted item to wash and block. I'll post picks of the week's knitting frenzy tomorrow after they've been gifted.

TTFN!

Backed into a corner

2009-02-26T18:51:00.003-05:00

That's a huge understatement of how I feel right now. Breastfeeding Alex has always been rocky - slow gaining in the beginning, the whole FTT/low supply song and dance and lets not forget the bad latch - of which I have what I hope is not a permanent reminder (callous - ouch). There have been some nice parts, don't get me wrong - but for the most part it has been a constant struggle. Even now I'm downing the fenugreek and blessed thistle again to boost my supply so he'll hopefully give me some rest, but after a year of toe-curling pain and not a few tears I am really ready to be done.

My mind is at war with itself. There is a big part of me that continues for the reason that I never made it this far with Michael - our nursing relationship was dysfunctional from the start and ended when he got his first cold and went on a strike. There there's the whole WHO recommendation of nursing for two years minimum which has been beaten into my head from the message boards I frequent. There's the fact that Alex is only 13 months and still such a baby and really does need it, not only for nutrition but the emotional attachment it brings.

Those are all reasons to continue, there's also the fact that constant sleep deprivation is taking a heavy toll on me. I never fully heal - the past year has been one long series of colds that never quite go away. My body is always achy because it never gets the restorative sleep it needs to function. I am starting to have some serious concerns about the toll this is taking on my health - both physical and mental. My brain is mush and I am not nearly the parent I know I can be to my kids because I'm always just shy of complete exhaustion. Hell, so much of my energy is focused on just getting through the day that I rarely get to just sit back and enjoy my kids.

I've made the decision to night-wean and then onto complete weaning if that doesn't work. We are starting the arduous process of registering Michael with the school district for kindergarten and in my current mental state there is no way I can be the advocate I need to be for him. I can't skip meetings or doing things because I'm too exhausted or just can't muster the mental energy necessary to interact with people beyond the baristas at my local Starbucks. While Alex has some pretty big needs right now too, I can't sit this process out - it's too damned important. I want to do what's best for myself and my kids and unfortunately that might mean not breastfeeding any more.

I'm probably trying to convince myself here more than the faceless internet. I've made it to 13 months nursing and that's no small feat considering the social climate and the obstacles I've faced. I'd like to continue to do so, but the time is fast approaching where I'm going to have to make that hard decision between doing what's best for me and my family verses the standard that others have set.

Ack!!!!

2009-02-13T21:24:00.002-05:00

Project picked out - check
Time to knit project - check
Yarn for project - check
Pattern for project - ACK!!!

I have to admit, I picked out the pattern earlier this week and in this age of digital downloads, I thought it would be as easy as hopping on the site this evening, ordering it and then swatching so I could start it in earnest tomorrow morning. Except it's a hard copy and by the looks of it my pattern will not start it journey from Missouri until Monday.

Guess who is spending some quality time on Ravelry tonight trying to find a similar one?

What's been doing...

2009-02-12T00:23:00.002-05:00

The ever popular bulleted list

Much gnashing of teeth

working my way through Adobe Photoshop Elements blindly and finding I'm pretty happy with the results

Surviving the flu and beating would-be pneumonia into submission (still not out of the woods yet on that last one)

cutting canines (boy the younger, that is)

angst

yet another in a long line of sub-par birthdays

Wondering if when Gordon Jeweler's says to let their diamonds do the talking, do they mean that diamonds should represent blood and the subjugation of entire populations because you know that's what every woman wants

Got a bit more work done on Knitty Keen (see post below) and the Pookey pattern will be going live this coming weekend (only a week late, which isn't too shabby for me at this point

Go to bed, Jenn!

Click on through

2009-02-12T00:20:00.002-05:00

...and check out Knitty Keen's new duds. I still have a bit of tweaking to do, but I'm pretty happy with the layout and the new banner graphic.

Hmmmm

2009-02-05T19:03:00.003-05:00

The Knit Kit

One of my LYS's is taking pre-orders on it for April. Man is it ever pretty and as much as I don't really need one, do I ever want one.

Early Mother's Day perhaps...

Walking Distance

2009-02-04T20:16:00.003-05:00

I was just thinking how much my life has become defined by this simple phrase. The weather, broken sleep equalling achy body that never quite gets better, my need to eke out as much down time for myself as I can and the prospect of wrangling two kids has kept us very close to home these past few months. The few times I've ventured out of our little corner of Philadelphia have not gone well for the most part. I end up sticking to places where I know I can get home in a five block walk when the situation implodes as is its wont.

I miss the eight to ten miles a week I used to walk - packing Michael in the stroller, grabbing some diapers and finger foods and just heading out. There were days when we would leave at nine in the morning and not get back until four or five. I would walk laps around Rittenhouse Square to get Michael to fall asleep so I could sit with my coffee and knit for a bit. I'd meet up with friends and let him loose in the toddler pit (a.k.a. the empty fountain). There was even that time when we bought some hard cider and drank it out of Starbucks cups while the kids climbed on the goat statue at park.

Our routine as a family of four has shifted a great deal over the past six months. Popping a baby on your back and grabbing the four year-old for a trip to the zoo involving two forms of transportation is so daunting when you are getting sleep in at best three-hour intervals. We practically live at our local Starbucks. I'm in there on Michael's school mornings while Alex takes his nap. We are also there on Michael's off days - Alex again napping and Michael playing with my Nintendo DS or coloring. On weekends I'm there most of the day sometimes - I head out for quiet/work time in the early morning by myself and then swing back mid-morning for the kids so John can have some time to himself.

After all of this rambling, I guess I never thought I'd still be in survival mode at this point. Granted, it is getting better, but so much of the focus is still on just getting through the day without loosing it with my kids. My oh so favorite phrase comes to mind, dripping with triteness - This too shall pass. It is incredibly frustrating that it's taking so damned long.

I give you...

2009-02-03T21:04:00.001-05:00

Pookey!

With any luck, I'll be going live with the pattern by the weekend.

Pookey

2009-02-03T09:16:00.002-05:00

Is the name Michael has given my newest knitting creation. I want to make a second model and then I'm going to so who wants to test it for me and may even try to *gasp* sell the pattern by the end of the week. I'll post some pics of the models later today.

I finished the BSJ in record time - had the seams sewn and ends woven in by Sunday night. I have to block the hell out of it because it just fits Alex. I'll post this elsewhere as well, but I managed to get the whole thing done including small sleeve extensions and a full i-cord bind off with about 3 yards of yarn to spare - so you can get a BSJ out of 280yds of sport-weight on Size 7's if you enjoy living dangerously.

I of course have the obligatory million projects going at once, but I've been surprising myself by actually finishing some stuff.

In other news, Alex is becoming the walking machine - he's up to around 10 steps at a time now. It's such a different experience from Michael - he was so cautious and Alex just strikes out in whatever direction he fancies.

We are off to "coffee". TTFN!

January Crafts Update

2009-01-28T22:30:00.002-05:00

There has been a lot of knitting going on the past few weeks. Much of my Christmas knitting this year was felted stuff, so an "All Felt" crafts update is in the works.

Here's what's been doing...

Snowmen

A few more of the ones that I knocked out for presents. These three went down to my relatives in Maryland.

Bauble Wrap Neck Warmer

This will one day see light as a Knitty Keen pattern, maybe even before spring if I can carve out some time. This is my prototype, made for (and modeled by too) the ever lovely K using Carron Simply Soft and size 10 needles. I cast on for it the afternoon of the inauguration after I found out K was wearing a scarf made of wool to which she is allergic to because she didn't have a scarf. I've played around with this lace/textured pattern before and I love the way it turned out with the larger needles.

Michael's Charlie Brown Socks

I dyed this yarn ages ago and really didn't like how it looked. Michael has been going through a big yellow phase so I decided to knock out a pair of socks for him. I knit them from the toe up with a gusset and rounded heel with a garter-rib pattern. I'm going to do up a quick and dirty pattern for them over on Knitty Keen, so be sure to take a look this weekend.

Slouchy Mitts

Finally - something for me. John got me some Kureyon Sock yarn last year for Christmas and knitting socks in this was a study in frustration. Doing entrelac on size 3 needles was much easier. They are a bit over sized so the cuffs will fit over my shirt-sleeves to keep the cold out and I can wear them over my cheap gloves for an extra layer of warmth.

Birthday Surprise Jacket

We still have yet to actually celebrate Alex's birthday, so in an effort to get things moving, I'm knocking out a BSJ for him. The yarn is Dashing Dachs sport-weight in the Skippy colorway knit on size 7's. The yarn was a gift from Heather way back last spring when I was going through a tough time. I'm about 2/3's done, so with a bit of luck I'll be able to get pics of the belated birthday boy in his new sweater.

I've got to go and tend to Alex now and hopefully we'll all get some sleep. 'night all!

Still Aten't Ded

2009-01-22T13:11:00.002-05:00

Short and sweet, bulleted list...

Alex turned one yesterday - where did the last year go?

We are starting the long and perilous process of enrolling Michael in Kindergarten. Keeping my fingers crossed that I will have no need of the appeals process for his IEP. I also have a ton of vaccinations to catch up on for him - yet another thing I am not looking forward to.

Back to Alex - he's taking steps! I am so not ready for this.

I only have six more months of four left - it can't come soon enough. At least I've been able to restructure my parenting to what is developmentally appropriate for Michael. It's a hell of a lot of work, especially when your reserves are almost nil, but things are getting a bit better.

As to emotional reserves - they are still being taxed to the breaking point, but I have a day or so out of every week where the kids sleep and I can be close to the parent I know I can be to them. This too shall pass.

Lots of knitting going on. I'm making the commitment to get Knitty Keen off the ground and I have John's support. Like everything else, it's going to be hard as hell - but the payoff will be so worth it.

This is going to be a year of changes - we are working on some major decluttering in both our house and our lives. I've been feeling like I'm stuck in a rut for ages and I'm going to do something about it. Look for radical hair cut and new glasses in the not too distant future. I am endevouring to become "that mom" but hey, there are worse things to be. Frankly, anything is better than the way I feel I look now and I need to do some stuff so I can get comfortable in my skin again.

Kids need feeding. We aren't doing the real celebration for Alex 'til tomorrow, so I'll be sure to get pics up. TTFN!

It's about time

2008-12-31T10:34:00.000-05:00

Terry Pratchett knighted for services to literature

This is not what I signed up for

2008-12-28T16:20:00.003-05:00

There are few parenting tasks that are as hard as administering medicine to a child who doesn't want to take it. Michael's RAD has reared its ugly head once more which means I have to use the big guns - the nebulizer and albuterol. Not only does the albuterol make him wired beyond belief, but he has once again developed a huge aversion to the nebulizer again. There's nothing quite like pinning a 40lb/45" preschooler who is half a step away from complete hysterics while keeping a mask on his face for the ten minutes or so it takes for the albuterol to completely vaporize. Thankfully, his respirations aren't that bad but he's having retractions so skipping it isn't an option and I have no desire to make a late night visit to CHOP if his respirations get high which they have a history of doing.

Because misery loves company, Alex is steps (ha) away from walking so I have the joy of a milestone driven sleep regression on top of the white noise of teething. I hate the triteness of the phrase, but This too shall pass has been my mantra. It won't always be this intense and in the grand scheme of things this period is just a drop in the bucket. Unfortunately, that provides little comfort while I'm in the thick of it and ready to sell my soul for sleep and time alone.

We had a fairly quiet Christmas with lots of pictures which I'll get around to posting at some point. John got me Lego Batman for my Nintendo DS and has been working hard to make sure I get some time to actually play it the past few days. Michael loves his WALL-E and EVE action figures and his Matchbox car case is seeing a lot of use. Alex has a new to him walker/ride-on car which isn't seeing use as a walker yet but he's been having a lot of fun playing with the gadgets on it.

Peace has descended on my livingroom for the moment, so I'll take my leave now.